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By Newzyy Staff — 5h ago
Dulwich Picture Gallery Hosts Impressive Photography Exhibition
The Dulwich Picture Gallery has opened its second-ever photography exhibition, offering a glimpse into the US cityscape through a carefully curated selection of works by influential 20th-century photographers. This show, a joint effort with the DNB Savings Bank Foundation, features iconic photographs that capture America's urban environment in all its complexities.
The exhibition begins with the pioneers of pictorialist photography, including Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen, who showcased the artistic potential of the medium. Dorothea Lange and Lewis Hine, two notable social documentary photographers, also make an appearance with their groundbreaking works. Migrant Mother, a haunting portrait of the Great Depression era, is a poignant example of the impact of their photographs.
Additionally, the exhibition includes masterpieces from other celebrated photographers such as Ilse Bing, Mary Ellen Mark, Diane Arbus, and Saul Leiter. However, as this is a limited selection from the DNB Savings Bank Foundation's collection, the curatorial choices are somewhat constrained. The inclusion of video pieces, like a 44-second clip of the White Angel soup kitchen in San Francisco, offers alternative perspectives on the photographed scenes.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the juxtaposition of early, more optimistic photographs with later, more ominous works. Aaron Siskind's Harlem Document, with its focus on abstract expression and social protest, represents the former, while Weegee's sensationalist snapshots of New York after dark exemplify the latter. These differing approaches demonstrate the versatility and power of photography as a medium.
The show is a comprehensive overview of America's urban environment, with all its attendant beauty and ugliness. From the Great Depression to the New Deal, the photographs on display offer a nuanced understanding of a pivotal moment in American history.