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 (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
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
H 24 in W 17 in
Swinging Sixties – Twiggy, Surrey, May, 1967 Limited Edition
By David Steen
Located in London, GB
Swinging Sixties – Twiggy, Surrey, May, 1967 Limited Edition Limited Edition David Steen Estate Print Limited Edition: All prints are limited editions, no further prints are produ...
C Print, Color
H 12 in W 9 in D 1 in
"Limelight" Photo BOOK with 4 x hand printed silver gelatin prints UNIQUE
Located in Norwich, GB
Iconic and rare limited edition prints direct from the negative, signed on reverse in pencil by photographer Accompanied by recently released photo book "Limelight" September 2025, ...
Archival Pigment, Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin
H 19.5 in W 24.75 in
Mitchell Epstein Signed Vintage Color Photograph C Print Photo Florence Italy
By Mitch Epstein
Located in Surfside, FL
Mitch Epstein Boboli Gardens, Florence, Italy 1977 Hand signed and titled verso 11 X 16.25 image. Sheet: 13 x 19 3/16 in. frame is 19.5 X 24.75 Italian landscape with statue Mitchel...
C Print
H 24 in W 20 in
Untitled Abstract Color Photograph Interior 1970's Woman Photographer
By Lorie Novak
Located in Surfside, FL
Lorie Novak is an artist and Professor of Photography & Imaging at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Associate Faculty at the Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics. She us...
C Print
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
H 40 in W 60 in
'Bluebird' Rainer W. Schlegelmilch Archive Limited Edition
By Rainer W. Schlegelmilch
Located in London, GB
'Bluebird' Rainer W. Schlegelmilch Archive Limited Edition Fantastic and fantastical, many of the top car manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini etc launched concept cars in the 1970s...
C Print
H 30 in W 40 in
Slim Aarons 'Welles In Biarritz' 1960 Limited Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
'Welles In Biarritz' 1960 Slim Aarons Limited Estate Edition Print American actor and filmmaker Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) at a cafe in Biarritz, September 1960. (Photo by Slim Aar...
C Print, Color
H 19.75 in W 16.75 in
Naomi Campbell, Paul Rowland Vintage Portrait Silver Gelatin Print
By Paul Rowland
Located in Surfside, FL
Paul Rowland- He is the one, that everybody knows about, Paul Rowland. A genius in the modeling industry, president of Ford Models New York, owner of Women Model Management & Suprem...
Silver Gelatin
H 11 in W 14 in
House, West Cork, Ireland, 1996
By John Dolan
Located in Hudson, NY
Each year, Robin Rice celebrates a Salon style exhibition to showcase her gallery artists and invite new ones. With Robin’s extensive experience as a gallery curator, all Robin Rice Gallery endeavors are superbly managed. Whether working with corporate clients, interior designers or established collectors, the Robin Rice Gallery guides patrons throughout the selection process, inspiring them to build a stylish collection or striking décor. The Robin Rice Gallery offers a bevy of styles that Robin has procured with her own signature school of artists. C Print, Blue, House, Red Door, Vignette, Blur, House, West Cork...
C Print
H 16 in W 20 in D 0.1 in
Kens SC, CA, from Suburbia
By Bill Owens
Located in Denton, TX
Edition of 10 Signed, numbered, and print date. Series: Suburbia Bill Owens was born and raised in California. After volunteering in the Peace Corps he picked up photography and beg...
C Print
H 7.09 in W 9.45 in D 0.02 in
Louis Armstrong in Concert, 1955 – Original Vintage Photograph
Located in Cologne, DE
Louis Armstrong in Concert, 1955 – Original Vintage Photograph This striking black-and-white image, captured by German photographer Klaus Redenbacher, shows legendary American jazz m...
Silver Gelatin
H 11.82 in W 9.45 in D 0.02 in
Ella Fitzgerald in Concert, Germany 1965 - Original Vintage Photograph
Located in Cologne, DE
Ella Fitzgerald in Concert, Germany 1965 – Original Vintage Photograph by Klaus Redenbacher This striking black-and-white image captures the legendary American jazz singer Ella Fitzg...
Silver Gelatin
H 8.13 in W 11 in
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
H 16.57 in W 21.25 in
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
H 14 in W 11 in
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
H 6.38 in W 4.38 in
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
H 7.38 in W 9.38 in
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
H 42.5 in W 27.88 in
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
H 29.88 in W 33.25 in
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
H 14 in W 11 in
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
H 14 in W 11 in
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
H 11 in W 14 in
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
H 11 in W 14 in
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