The Magnum & World Press Photo Square Print Sale: Written by Light October 16–22
107 Square Prints priced at $110/£110/€120, available for one week only. Shop the collection now.
New York City, 1955.
It’s perhaps unsurprising that Elliot Erwitt, with his laconic eye for multiple meaning, has been captivated by the enigma of ‘couples’ for his entire career. “The subject is of great interest to me, having been half of one myself now and again—blissfully sometimes, sometimes not so,” says Erwitt. “I’ve taken many pictures on that subject in the natural course of my favourite pastime…photography.” Here, a newly wed couple share a kiss in the back of their car in New York, 1955.Lovers’ Lane. New Jersey, 1983.
Thomas Hoepker vividly captures New York's complex spirit in all its many moods. A long-time resident, Hoepker’s images range from the early 60s through 9/11, and up to the present. With journalistic zeal and a keen eye for crucial details, he documents a true New York with its diverse inhabitants and the allure of its prominent landmarks and hidden, far-flung corners. His insightful photography conveys a vivid sense of the city’s physical landscape and also of its unique everyday interactions and intricate urban culture.Coney Island. Brooklyn, New York City. 1985.
The photography of Ferdinando Scianna often captures decisive moments but his scenes take place within a wider unfolding process of time and movement. Whether it be in his home of Sicily or on the street of New York City, his ability to capture the essence of a situation is down to diligent exploration, in his own words: “waiting for those instants of meaning and glimpses of form that on very rare occasions reveal the world and myself.”New York City, 1955.
Werner Bischof was a Bauhaus trained studio photographer in Switzerland, before becoming a member of Magnum soon after the founding members in 1949. Somewhat of a reluctant photojournalist, Bischof struggled with the commissioning process, preferring to pursue his subjects independently. His heightened sense of composition remained with him into his photojournalism. Taken from above, this street scene captures some of the frenetic energy of the city streets where taxis and pedestrians jostle together.
