Past Exhibition

I Spy: Photography and the Theater of the Street, 1938–2010

The image shows a person standing in a frontal position. The individual has a serious expression, with deeply set eyes, a well-defined nose, and slightly pursed lips. They are wearing a black durag, a dark blue or black oversized t-shirt, and a gold chain with a cross pendant. The background is blurred, with hints of an industrial or dimly lit room.
Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Head #22, 2001, chromogenic print, Charina Endowment Fund, 2011.48.1

Details

  • Dates

    -

  • Locations

    West Building, Ground Floor, Inner Tier Galleries and Gallery 39
The image shows a person standing in a frontal position. The individual has a serious expression, with deeply set eyes, a well-defined nose, and slightly pursed lips. They are wearing a black durag, a dark blue or black oversized t-shirt, and a gold chain with a cross pendant. The background is blurred, with hints of an industrial or dimly lit room.
Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Head #22, 2001, chromogenic print, Charina Endowment Fund, 2011.48.1

Overview: Since the invention of small hand-held cameras and faster films in the late 19th century, photographers have been fascinated with capturing everyday life in the urban environment. An exhibition of nearly 90 works will celebrate how photographers such as Harry Callahan, Bruce Davidson, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Walker Evans, Robert Frank, and Beat Streuli creatively pursued a new genre of street photography, capturing the diversity and rapid pace of modern life.

Organization: The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington and was curated by Sarah Greenough, senior curator and head of the department of photographs, National Gallery of Art.

Sponsor: The exhibition was made possible through the generous support of The Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation and the Trellis Fund. Tru Vue provided in-kind support of the Optium® Acrylic Glazing for the works of art.

Attendance: 88,959

Brochure: I Spy: Photography and the Theater of the Street, 1938–2010, by Sarah Greenough. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 2012.

This interactive brochure offers video excerpts from Beat Streuli's time-based work and audio clips from interviews with Bruce Davidson and Philip-Lorca diCorcia along with 24 photographs by Harry Callahan, Davidson, diCorcia, Walker Evans, and Robert Frank.

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