Books by Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt - Photo: Helga Waess
Munich. We were lucky enough to meet Elliott Erwitt in person in Munich at the "Stephen Hoffman - Fine Art Photography gallery" at the back of the Bayerischer Hof Hotel. He has repeatedly exhibited his original photographs and vintages here over the years since 2003. We last saw the Elliott Erwitt "Classic Images" exhibition here in 2016. Elliott Erwitt previously exhibited here on the occasion of his 80th birthday in 2008, where he also 2003 and 2005, his anniversary exhibition.
Elliott Erwitt had humor and talked about interviews and exhibitions around the world that took place throughout the year. I can still see the smiling photographer who said, "I've been congratulated on my birthday so many times this year that if you count every congratulation, I would have to be at least 150 years old."
When Elliott Erwitt talked about his photography adventures, people forgot his age. He was the eye behind the camera with which he looked at the world in his own unique way. The moment seemed important to him!
His parents were Russian emigrants who left Europe with the boy in 1939 and went to New York. They later live in Los Angeles. Here Elliott began studying photography, which he completed in 1948 at Los Angeles City College. In his final year of college, Elliott works part-time as a photo lab technician. He goes back to New York and begins studying film at the New School of Social Research, which he successfully completes, before moving to Paris to work as a cameraman. During his travels through France and Italy, many photos were taken and his professional career as a photographer took off.
In 1951, Elliott Erwitt began his military service in the US Army and was stationed in New Jersey. As a military photographer, he travels in France and Germany and his off-duty photographs end up in publications such as LIFE, Look, Holiday and many others. In 1953, after two years of military service, Erwitt received an invitation to the renowned magnum photos agency from Robert Capa, whom he first met in New York in 1949/50. He has been a permanent member of the agency since 1958. After 10 years, Elliott Erwitt becomes president of the legendary photo agency "magnum photos".
Elliott Erwitt will remain a permanent and active member of the agency throughout his life.
Under the title "Elliott Erwitt. Classic Images" by Stephen Hoffman presented famous classics from the influential magnum photographer in 2016. Erwitt personally came to Munich from the States to present his photos, all of which are firmly anchored in contemporary visual memory and have shaped our image of certain places. It was an experience to follow his explanations.
The recordings that repeatedly focus on love are also impressive. Among them we would like to highlight a single declaration of love to Paris:
A photo that was taken in 1989 to mark the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Eiffel Tower. It is probably one of the most famous Paris icons of photographic art. The "Umbreller jump, Paris, France, 1989". We see the plateau in front of the Field of Mars of the World Exhibition, in the background the Eiffel Tower, in front of it a couple of lovers in the rain, who are completely engrossed in looking at each other and completely block out the weather, which is wonderfully illustrated by the umbrella folding up above them and exposed to the wind. There is love in the air! And before that, the jump: a man who seems to be flying in a long jump with his umbrella open. Exuberant joie de vivre in the French metropolis - what an impressive shot. Artistically composed with a gaze that you like to follow.
Elliott Erwitt's photographs tell stories that the viewer - even today - wants to read again and again. Timeless photography. Glossy magazines and advertising companies approached the magnum photographer with targeted orders.
His work can be found in major photography museums and collections worldwide such as
Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Chicago Art Institute, at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris or Kunsthaus in Zurich etc.The influential and famous Magnum photographer Elliott Erwitt presented his black and white photos, some of which he initially photographed as private works, in gallery and museum exhibitions around the world. Most of his commissioned works were shot in color. The Magnum Photographer was in great demand among...
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