To pay tribute to its departing director, Willis E. « Buzz » Hartshorn , the International Center of Photography in New York is presenting 100 photographs from its vast private collection. The exhibition, which opens today, features famous and lesser known images owned by Eugène Atget, W. Eugene Smith, Cindy Sherman, Walker Evans, Alessandra Sanguinetti and many others. Mr. Hartshorn played a major role in the development of this collection, which has more than doubled in size since he was named director two decades ago. Initially focused on documentary photography and journalism, the ICP has over time taken full measure of photography’s many histories, including its contemporary history. Acquisitions have increased the archive’s size to more than 120,000 images. On the evening before ICP Infinity Awards, Hartshorn spoke to us about this development now symbolized by new technology: “ With digital, we are reminded of the origins of photography, how it was the first medium to accurately reproduce visual information. Photography is multiplicity, ease of production, affordability, the possibility to see the world, photography is democracy: all those key values from the early 20th century are resurfacing in the 21st.”
Beyond the pleasure of rediscovering these images, this exhibition demonstrates how the ICP keeps up with the times. And we have ‘Buzz’ to thank for that.
A Short History of Photography: From the ICP Collection
Honoring Willis E. Hartshorn, Ehrenkranz Director
Du 18 mai au 2 septembre 2012
International Center of Photography
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street,
New York, NY 10036
Phone 212.857.0000
