"In the exhibition-which features close to 140 works from her archive-visitors are met with a wide ranging sequence of photojournalistic work. Arnold captures Black life in the United States, particularly the political activism of Malcolm X at his rallies for Black Muslim solidarity. With the same facility, she portrays vibrant beauty pageant culture in New York's Harlem neighborhood. Arnold's steady hand renders these worlds with curiosity."
"Less concerned with the onstage performances, the photographer gravitated towards intimate moments behind the scenes when participants prepared themselves in the comfort of private rooms. The making of these images by a white photographer was quite radical for its time, given that segregation was still in full swing in the United States when the photos were taken. The resulting photographs provide a delicate and unique glimpse into Black life, particularly expressions of pride, femininity and elegance during the 1950s."
Eve Arnold was one of the first women photographers to join Magnum Photos. Born in Philadelphia around the turn of the 20th century, she began her photographic career in her mid-30s. A retrospective presents close to 140 archival works spanning portraiture and photojournalism. Arnold documents Black life in the United States, including Malcolm X rallies and Harlem beauty pageants, favoring intimate backstage moments over onstage performances. The images, made during segregation, deliver delicate glimpses of pride, femininity, and elegance in the 1950s. Additional galleries include portraits of Golden Age Hollywood actors and behind-the-scenes photos of Marilyn Monroe on The Misfits.
Read at Berlin Art Link
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