New York school of photography facts for kids

The New York school of photography refers to a group of photographers who lived and worked in New York City during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Even though they didn't officially form a group, they shared many ideas, styles, and subjects in their photos. Their work often showed a strong focus on people and real-life situations.

Their style was often described as "tough-minded." They used techniques from photojournalism, which is like telling a story with pictures. They were also influenced by film noir, a style of dark and moody movies. Famous photographers like Lewis Hine, Walker Evans, and Henri Cartier-Bresson also inspired them.

These photographers avoided simply describing things in their pictures. They also didn't focus too much on themselves, unlike some artists of the time. Interestingly, their photography wasn't much influenced by other art forms like painting or graphic design, even though some of them knew about these fields.

Some of the most important photographers connected to the New York school include Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Alexey Brodovitch, Ted Croner, Bruce Davidson, Don Donaghy, Louis Faurer, Robert Frank, Sid Grossman, William Klein, Saul Leiter, Leon Levinstein, Helen Levitt, Lisette Model, David Vestal, and Weegee.

Why the New York School Formed

Many things helped create this unique photography style in New York City.

Art for Change

One big idea was that art, especially photography, could help make life better for working-class people. Photographers believed their pictures could show important issues and encourage change.

The Photo League

The Photo League was a group in New York City that taught photography and held exhibitions. It was a very important place for these photographers to learn, share ideas, and show their work. Many members of the New York school were part of the Photo League.

Picture Magazines and Exhibitions

New York City was home to many popular picture magazines. These magazines needed lots of photos, giving photographers a place to publish their work. There were also art galleries and spaces that sometimes showed photographic prints, which helped photographers gain recognition.

Movies and European Influence

Many photographers watched a lot of movies, especially film noir, which influenced their dark and dramatic style. Also, some photographers had moved from Europe or had spent time there. This brought new ideas and ways of seeing the world to New York.

Is It Really a "School"?

The idea of a "New York school of photography" isn't something everyone agrees on.

Different Views

Some experts, like Max Kozloff, don't use the term "New York school" even when writing about the same photographers. Others, like Evan Sklar, say that critics and curators still debate exactly who belongs to this group.

Focus on the City

However, many agree that these photographers created serious and thoughtful images. Their main subject was often the city of New York itself. They captured the feeling and daily life of the city in the decades after World War II.