Elliott Erwitt: the sublime retrospective devoted to the photographer is extended at the Musée Maillol

" I think the most important thing you can do in photography is to evoke emotion, to make people laugh or cry, or both," says Elliott Erwitt. He is one of the most important and talented photographers of the 20th century, famous in particular for his mythical shots of street scenes. This spring and summer, the Musée Maillol in Paris is paying tribute toElliott Erwitt 's work with a major retrospective. Simply entitled " Elliott Erwitt ", this exhibition is not to be missed from March 23 to September 24, 2023.

An American photographer of Russian origin, Elliott Erwitt spent part of his childhood on the Old Continent, particularly in Italy, Germany and France, a country he holds in particularly high regard. It was before the war, in 1938, that Elliott's parents decided to emigrate to the United States. And life in this great country was to smile on him. He was spotted by Robert Capa, and joined the prestigious Magnum agency.

This Paris retrospective is an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the life and career of this legendary photographer, a member of Magnum Photos since 1953. The " Elliott Erwitt " exhibition retraces the different stages of his work, unveiling a collection of his photographs, most of which have become iconic. His style? Immortalize moments of everyday life with intelligence and a touch of caustic humor.

Of course, the exhibition also features his black-and-white shots, which we never tire of looking at. Elliott Erwitt has never hidden his preference for black and white, because, he says, it captures the " synthesis " of the subject matter.

This exhibition at the Musée Maillol therefore unveils a number of magnificent black & white photographs, some of which have become must-sees over the years. These include, of course, his series on dogs and cities, with New York and Paris at the forefront, but also his abstract photos and those taken on the beach, one of his favorite hunting grounds.

While several exhibitions have already been devoted toElliott Erwitt's work, this fine retrospective also highlights his color photographs. From his shots of theAmerican Way of Life to his photos as a photojournalist (Iran, Pakistan, Hungary, Poland...), not forgetting his fashion photographs and portraits of politicians and artists (JFK, Charles de Gaulle, the Obama couple, Nikita Khrushchev and Richard Nixon, but also Grace Jones and Andy Warhol, Alfred Hitchcock...). Among the most famous? His shots of Che Guevara with his cigar and Marilyn Monroe in a white dress on a subway platform.

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For fans of photography andElliott Erwitt, the exhibition also features"The Factory", an evocation of the artist's New York studio.

And let's not forget the last part of the exhibition. Located upstairs, it features a unique dialogue between photographer Erwitt and sculptor Maillol.

In this retrospective devoted to Elliott Erwitt, on view at the Musée Maillol until August 15, 2022, visitors can discover and admire some 220 photographs by this giant of photography, whose career spans 7 decades! These photos show the many facets of his talent: photojournalist, advertising photographer, film director and author of some forty books.

We also appreciate the exhibition's scenography, which highlights the sublime photographs. The labels are short, giving only the place and date, a deliberate choice on the part of the artist. " I want people to react emotionally to my photos, not with their brains ," says Elliott Erwitt, who always manages to touch us with his humorous, tender gaze.

Thanks to this " Elliott Erwitt " exhibition at the Musée Maillot, visitors and lovers of iconic snapshots can (re)discover the unique sensibility of this essential 20th-century photographer. Join us from March 23 to August 15, 2023 at the Musée Maillol in Paris to discover this magnificent retrospective!