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Coke Sign on the Boardwalk, 1949 © Harold Feinstein Courtesy Galerie Thierry Bigaignon.
Feinstein in Paris
When he died in June 2015 at the age of 84, the New York Times declared Harold Feinstein «one of the most accomplished recorders of the American experience». His work is owned by prestigious museums, corporations and private collectors, yet this great artist is practically unknown in Europe. Galerie Thierry Bigaignon is presenting a retrospective of his work that will span several years — a first of its kind in Europe.
Feinstein was born in Coney Island in 1931. At the age of 15 he dropped out of school and began photographing his native Coney Island. By the age of 19, Edward Steichen had purchased his work for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA), making him the youngest person to be sohonored. Indeed, the photography world at the time considered him a child prodigy.
At 17, he became the youngest member of the historic
Photo League foundedby Sid Grossman. In 1954, upon returning from the Korean War at the age of 23, he became one of the original inhabitants of the legendary Jazz Loft. He later turned over his loft space to his good friend and colleague W. Eugene Smith with whom he worked closely on the famous Pittsburgh Project. Eugene Smith would later say about him: «Harold Feinstein is one of the very few photographers I have known or have been influenced by with the ability to reveal the familiar to me as beautifully new, in a strong and honest way».
As a representative of the so-called
New York school of photography, Feinstein spent six decades photographing the streets of New York and became known for his appreciative and empathic portrayal of the human condition.
Though his Coney Island work has been much celebrated, Feinstein's breadth and exposure is far greater, including a large body of classic street photography, nudes, portraits, still life and an intimate portrayal of the life of a conscripted soldier during the Korean War.
Former
New York Times critic and historian A. D. Coleman wrote: «Harold Feinstein is a true photographer’s photographer, and one of the most seriously under-recognized senior figures in U.S. photography». Thierry Bigaignon adds: «Harold is no doubt one of the masters of the 20th century. Just like Vivian Maier whose photographs were only unveiled after her death or Jacques-Henri Lartigue whose talent was discovered at 70 years old, Harold’s remarkable work is now being re-discovered by the art world. Anyone who gets a chance to hold Harold’s prints in their hands, will begin to understand what the world has been missing. They are masterpieces».
The exhibition The Harold Feinstein Retrospective, Part I - The Early Years (1940's - 1950's): Contagious Optimism will be inaugurated in Paris on Friday, February 3rd, 2017 at 6,00pm at the Galerie Thierry Bigaignon.
The Harold Feinstein Retrospective, Part I - The Early Years (1940’s - 1950’s): Contagious Optimism
Galerie Thierry Bigaignon, Hôtel de Retz, Bâtiment A - 9, rue Charlot - Paris (France)
February, 3rd - April, 30th 2017
opening times: from Tuesday to Saturday, 12,00pm - 7,00pm, and by appointments
admission fee: free entrance
info: +33 (0)6 80619941
thierry@thierrybigaignon.com
www.thierrybigaignon.com
_ _ _
[ EXTERNAL RESOURCES ]
◎ Harold Feinstein
◎ Galerie Thierry Bigaignon
published on 2017-01-09 in NEWS / EXHIBITIONS
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