Saul Leiter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saul Leiter
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Leiter in 2008
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| Born | December 3, 1923 |
| Died | November 26, 2013 (aged 89) New York City, US
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| Occupation | Photographer and painter |
Saul Leiter (December 3, 1923 – November 26, 2013) was an American photographer and painter. His early photos from the 1940s and 1950s were very important. They helped create a style known as the New York school of photography.
Contents
Life and Early Work
Saul Leiter was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father was a well-known religious scholar. Saul was expected to follow in his father's footsteps and become a rabbi. But at age 12, his mother gave him his first camera. This sparked his interest in art.
When he was 23, Saul decided to leave his religious studies. He moved to New York City to become an artist. He was already very interested in painting. He even met a famous painter named Richard Pousette-Dart.
Becoming a Photographer
Richard Pousette-Dart and another photographer, W. Eugene Smith, encouraged Saul to try photography. Soon, he was taking black and white pictures. He used a 35 mm Leica camera. He got this camera by trading some of Eugene Smith's prints!
In 1948, Saul started taking color photographs. He met other photographers like Robert Frank and Diane Arbus. Together, they helped form what is called the New York School of photographers. This group was active in the 1940s and 1950s.
Fashion Photography and Recognition
Starting in the early 1960s, Saul Leiter worked as a fashion photographer. He did this for about 20 years. His photos appeared in popular magazines like Show, Elle, British Vogue, Queen, and Nova.
A famous art director, Henry Wolf, also published Saul's color fashion work. This was in magazines like Esquire and Harper's Bazaar.
Saul's black and white photos were shown in a big exhibition. It was called Always the Young Stranger. This show was at the Museum of Modern Art in 1953. His work is also featured in important books about photography.
Documentaries and Legacy
Saul Leiter is the subject of a documentary film. It's called In No Great Hurry - 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter. It was made in 2012 by Tomas Leach. Saul also appears in another film, Tracing Outlines (2015).
A writer named Martin Harrison described Saul's unique style. He said Saul's photos were different from other New York photographers. While others showed the busy, sometimes tough, side of city life, Saul looked for peace. He found quiet moments in the middle of busy Manhattan.
Saul Leiter passed away on November 26, 2013. He was 89 years old.
Filmography
- In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter (2013) – A film about Saul Leiter.
Museum Collections
Saul Leiter's photographs are kept in many important museums. Here are some of them:
- Addison Gallery of American Art
- The Albertina Museum, Vienna
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Museum of Modern Art, New York
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- Victoria & Albert Museum, London
- Whitney Museum of American Arts, New York
