Helen Levitt often commented that the reason she expressed herself through photography was that she was inarticulate with the spoken word. One of the most celebrated photographers of the 20th century among her peers but least known by the public, from a young age she wanted to create art but knew her talents with a paintbrush or a charcoal pencil were limited. She discovered a way to artistically express herself — through the lens of a camera.
Levitt was born in Brooklyn, New York. At 18, she dropped out of high school to work in a portrait photographer’s darkroom — eventually trying her hand at photography. She trained herself to take better compositions by studying paintings in museums around New York and then using her mother’s friends as practice subjects. In 1936, after discovering the works of French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson she purchased her first camera and began to take pictures of neighborhood children making sidewalk chalk drawings.
Levitt took her portfolio to the studio of Walker Evans — another photographer which she admired. Struck by her thoughtful compositions and natural talent, he hired her as his assistant. She began photographing ordinary street life in the lower-class neighborhoods of East Harlem, the Lower East Side and the Garment District in New York City.
In 1939, Levitt’s photographs were published in Fortune magazine. Later that same year, she received a grant from the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Guggenheim Foundation. Seeing a similarity in film noir to what she was trying to capture in black and white photography, she became a film editor. She worked on several films including The Quiet One, an Academy Award nominee.
In 1959 Levitt began to photograph in color but eventually returned to black and white photography in the 1990s. A collection of her photographs of children and their chalk drawings were eventually published, in 1987, in a book called In the Street: Chalk Drawings and Messages. Some of her color photographs were published in Slide Show in 2005.
On 1stDibs find original Helen Levitt black and white photography, portrait photography, color photography and more.
New York City (striped socks)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
12 x 8 inch type-c print, signed on verso. Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness transformed the gritty world of New York C...
C Print
New York (consoling woman)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
11 x 14 inch gelatin silver print. Image size 7.25 x 10.75 inches. Signed on verso Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness tr...
Silver Gelatin
"Memphis, 1989", Memphis, Tennessee, 2005
By Everett McCourt
Located in Hudson, NY
Coca Cola, brick, American, Americana, Classic, Memphis, Tennessee, symbol, sign, wall art, graffiti, urban, city, color, landscape, americana, still life, color photography, rural, ...
C Print
Chet Baker in Lucca - Jazz Trumpet Player Jazz Chet Baker Portrait
Located in Brighton, GB
American jazz trumpet player and singer Chet Baker harmonises on his trumpet whilst sitting on an open window ledge in his hotel room in Lucca, Italy. He wears jeans and a button-u...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$393
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Shaken not Stirred, 1968 - 007 James Bond Roger Moore Portrait Tuxedo Martini
Located in Brighton, GB
Shaken not Stirred, 1968 - 007 James Bond Roger Moore Portrait Tuxedo Martini Roger Moore casts a glance away from the camera as he sips the quintessential James Bond drink: the ic...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$2,500
H 8 in W 10 in
Kate #10, Yoga, Black and White Photograph, Signed Vintage, 8x10 Inches
By Leonard Freed
Located in New york, NY
Kate #10, 2002 by Leonard Freed is an 8" x 10" hand printed black and white photograph from his nude series. Signed by the photographer the gelatin silver print is stamped "vintage" ...
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Film, Photographic Paper
Couple in MG, Florence, Italy
By Ruth Orkin
Located in Denton, TX
No Edition Blind stamp on print margin. Signed by Estate, titled, dated and copyright date in pencil on artist stamp. Paper size: 16 x 20 in. Ruth Orkin (1921 - 1985) was an America...
Silver Gelatin
$393
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Sexy Scot - Sean Connery as James Bond 007 Hollywood Film Stars and Actors
Located in Brighton, GB
Sexy Scot from the Getty Archive The original James Bond, Scottish actor Sean Connery, lounges on a chintzy sofa with a cigarette as he converses with someone off camera. This por...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Zermatt Skiing' - Mid-century Modern Photography
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Culinary Heights 1987 (printed later) C print Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150 with Certificate of authenticity Courchevel restaurant chefs Jean Jacob (left) of 'Le Bate...
C Print
Slim Aarons 'Catching The Sun In Cortina'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Catching The Sun In Cortina 1976 (printed later) C print Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150 with Certificate of authenticity Giuliana Gerolinetto, Maria Cristi...
C Print
$393
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Taylor in Fur - Elizabeth Taylor London Publicity Shot Paris Daily Express
Located in Brighton, GB
British-American film actress Elizabeth Taylor is photographed close-up at London Airport as she awaits to board a flight to Paris and then the United States of America. Her richly ...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$7,930
H 72 in W 48 in D 0.1 in
Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc Limited Edition Print, Slim Aarons, Oversize 72x48 inches
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc Guests by the pool at the Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc, Antibes, France, August 1976. (Photo by Slim Aarons) Unframed (Premium Collection) Limited Edition Estate St...
C Print
$393
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Spectre HQ - James Bond Thunderball Hollywood Movie Film Ken Adam Set Design
Located in Brighton, GB
A view of the vast and extensive film set of the James Bond film 'You Only Live Twice' (1966). The set was designed by Ken Adam and structured to represent the inside secret base o...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$15,000
H 20 in W 24 in D 1 in
"Syd Barrett Laying on His Car" Photography 20" x 24" inch 14/50 by Mick Rock
By Mick Rock
Located in Culver City, CA
"Syd Barrett Laying on His Car" Photography 20" x 24" inch 14/50 by Mick Rock Edition: 14/50 Signed and numbered by Mick Rock Medium: Silver gelatin limited edition photographic pri...
Silver Gelatin
New York (three kids with masks)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
8 1/8 x 11 inch gelatin silver print, printed later. Titled and dated by the artist on verso as "N.Y. circa 1942." Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vis...
Silver Gelatin
New York (one boy consoling another)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
7 x 11 inch gelatin silver print - signed, titled, and dated on verso. Provenance - from the James Agee Family Collection Helen Levitt was a true master of ...
Silver Gelatin
New York ("Spider Girl")
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
This work is one of Helen Levitt's most iconic color images, and one of only five images made as dye transfer prints. The image size measures 9.25 x 14.25 inches, and the print is si...
Dye Transfer
New York City (boys dancing)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
This 14 x 11 inch gelatin silver print was printed in the 1980s, and is signed on verso. Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiven...
Silver Gelatin
James Agee, King Street apartment
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
This is a vintage silver gelatin print, from the James Agee Family Collection. Levitt and Agee were close friends, and over the years Levitt gifted a number...
Silver Gelatin
James Agee
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
This is a mounted vintage silver gelatin print, from the James Agee Family Collection. Levitt and Agee were close friends, and over the years Levitt gifted ...
Silver Gelatin
N.Y.C. (5₵ Soda)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt made her images of children's chalk drawings early in her career. The prints she produced were traditionally small in scale. In 2000, she and our gallery launched a proj...
Silver Gelatin
N.Y.C. (Button to Secret Passage)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt made her images of children's chalk drawings early in her career. The prints she produced were traditionally small in scale. In 2000, she and our gallery launched a proj...
Silver Gelatin
Poster Girl, NYC
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness transformed the gritty world of New York City’s poorer neighborhoods into captivating,...
Silver Gelatin
New York (rolling record)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
14 x 11 inch gelatin silver print, signed by the artist on verso. 10.75 x 7.5 inch image size Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inven...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (cops and robbers)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness transformed the gritty world of New York City’s poorer neighborhoods into captivating,...
Silver Gelatin
New York City (woman reaching out)
By Helen Levitt
Located in New York, NY
11 x 14 inch gelatin silver print (image size 5.6 x 8.25 inches) Signed on verso. Helen Levitt was a true master of the street, one whose poetic vision, humor, and inventiveness ...
Silver Gelatin