01-WE_0260_Brooklyn-Bridge-1929_c.jpg

01-Walker-Evans-.-Wooden-Church-South-Carolina-.-1936.jpg

01B.jpg

020418-09-Walker-Evans-Havana-Architecture-Photography-Art-History (1).jpg

020418-09-Walker-Evans-Havana-Architecture-Photography-Art-History.jpg

020418-10-Walker-Evans-Havana-Architecture-Photography-Art-History.jpg

02_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

05.jpg

051.jpg

052.jpg

05216401.jpg

05230701-1200x950.jpg

05_walker_evans_moma_full.jpg

05_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

061.jpg

06_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

07-lens-evans-slide-I97S-superJumbo.jpg

079PF1222_6FKXG_1.jpg

08.jpg

081.jpg

08475fd7f5d43b1aef53645c3660e23a.jpg

08_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

091.jpg

100146.jpg

100147.jpg

100148.jpg

100149.jpg

100150.jpg

100151.jpg

100153.jpg

100154.jpg

100155.jpg

100156.jpg

100157.jpg

100158.jpg

100159.jpg

100161.jpg

100162.jpg

105206.jpg

10522.jpg

10523.jpg

10524.jpg

10525.jpg

10670.jpg

10728.jpg

10729.jpg

108411B1V1.jpg

10_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

11-walker-evans (1).jpg

11-walker-evans.jpg

11.jpg

111.walker-evans-copyright-2018-walker-evans-archive-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-courtesy-kicken-berlin-1000x795-q50.jpg

112698_2.jpg

11357.jpg

11358.jpg

11359.jpg

11360.jpg

11361.jpg

11362.jpg

11363.jpg

11364.jpg

11365.jpg

11366.jpg

11664.jpg

11665.jpg

11666.jpg

11667.jpg

11668.jpg

11669.jpg

11670.jpg

11671.jpg

11672.jpg

11673.jpg

11674.jpg

11675.jpg

11676.jpg

11677.jpg

11713.jpg

11714.jpg

11715.jpg

11716.jpg

11717.jpg

11718.jpg

117188.jpg

11719.jpg

11720.jpg

11721.jpg

11722.jpg

11723.jpg

11724.jpg

11739.jpg

11740.jpg

1189_xl.jpg

12_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

1400-WE_0208_Subway-Portrait-1941_c.jpg

1400-WE_0285-Dress-1963_c.jpg

140606-chicago-32.jpg

1610.jpg

16_walkerevans-sfmoma.jpg

1777_212777_evans.jpg

180510-brockway-walker-evans-photos-aucution-02_l9nfq4.jpg

180510-brockway-walker-evans-photos-aucution-03_urpxo5.jpg

19-Sidewalk-and-Shop-Front_preview.jpg

1_IHTu5evS8pCY1l9CeF_PqA.jpeg

20130807-lens-evans-slide-L4R4-superJumbo.jpg

2015_NYR_03726_0326_000(walker_evans_subway_portrait_c_1938-41).jpg

20170928-evanstruck-master.jpg

2176.jpg

2177.jpg

2178.jpg

2179.jpg

2180.jpg

2181.jpg

2182.jpg

2183.jpg

2184.jpg

2185.jpg

2186.jpg

2187.jpg

2188.jpg

2189 (1).jpg

2189.jpg

2190-001.jpg

2190.jpg

2191.jpg

2192.jpg

2193.jpg

2194.jpg

2195.jpg

2196.jpg

2197.jpg

2198.jpg

2199.jpg

2200.jpg

2201.jpg

2202.jpg

2211.jpg

2212.jpg

2213.jpg

2214.jpg

2215.jpg

2216.jpg

2454.jpg

2476.jpg

2906172f5e93df3ad375197d0a286ffaj.jpg

29515.jpg

2d7e02a3112a96c37c2a75cc2d11b7f8.jpeg

3108T_webcover.jpg

32641-1400266012-31.jpg

3_walker_evans_general_store_interior_full.jpg

3e9d8bffc23b080b18def37677ddea9e.jpg

48bc663466495897ee5f64c666c47235.jpeg

4e5e3114ccee954d8f1be4ae71312f9c.jpg

53151.jpg

56_1971_CR.sm_.jpg

5b8eff7422b3d.image.jpg

5d7eb6b417ee7f77ffdc53be4097f2c4.jpg

62145.jpg

62508.jpg

64335.jpg

6792588_orig.jpg

6f5d90d580ceaef30a8fca6724a34c3a.jpg

80.163_01_B02-Large-TIFF_4000-pixels-long-685x850.jpg

81ioczkQKGL.jpg

8a19121r.jpg

8a19569v-720x380.jpg

8a20304v.jpg

8c52173u.jpg

8c52225u-Alabama feed store front JAZZ FEED AWESOME-wm.preview.jpg

8c52874u-wm.preview.jpg

8cc1226951c5e7b9284825e75da0893e.jpg

94bb49db4c9b2558a6dd352d7f4488d69a482323_9708_body2_3.jpg

99764.jpg

Bethlehem_graveyard_and_steel_mill,_Pennsylvania_by_Walker_Evans.jpg

C1449.jpg

Construction-Worker-Louisiana-1936-by-Walker-Evans-BHC2906.jpg

DE01615_0 (1).jpg

DE01615_0.jpg

DE01715_0.jpg

DO02039_0.jpg

DO02040_0.jpg

DO02041_0.jpg

DO02042_0.jpg

DO02043_0.jpg

DO02044_0.jpg

DO02045_0.jpg

DO02046_0.jpg

DO02047_0.jpg

DO02048_0.jpg

DO02049_0.jpg

DO02050_0.jpg

EVANS.jpg

Evans Circus Vernacular SASA .jpg

Evans, Walker, Church of Nazarene, Tennessee, 1936, Gelatin Silver Print, 7_5x9_5in.jpg

Evans-Mask_0.jpg

Evans-p.131-Furniture-sign-802x636.jpg

Evans_2BoardingHousePorch-1005x800.jpg

Evans_6WellfleetMass-1012x800.jpg

Evans_oberlin.1970.18.jpg

Fe101839.jpg

Figura-1-Walker-Evans-Alabama-miners-houses-near-Birmingham-Alabama-1935-Figure.png

Foto-Robert-Frank-Territorio-Informativo.jpg

KFS-KFS-141114-Havana-Cuba-055731-2.jpg

KWAHS_Walker-Events_fruit-cart.jpg

Klat_Walker_Evans_A_Life_s-_Work_06.jpg

Lempertz-996-55-Photography-Walker-Evans-Washwoman’s-cabin.jpg

Log_Construction_Walker_Evans_photo_LOC.jpg

MarketLincolnNCWalkerEvns1935GD.jpg

NEGRO-BARBER-SHOP-INTERIOR.jpg

Ross_image_final.jpg

SAAM-1983.63.143_2.jpg

SAAM-1985.36.14_1.jpg

SAAM-1985.36.1_1.jpg

SAAM-1985.36.3_1.jpg

SAAM-1985.36.5_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.10_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.12_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.14_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.2_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.4_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.6_1.jpg

SAAM-2006.13.1.8_1.jpg

ShoeShine1936RuralBusSE_US_GD.jpg

StoreTruckWalkerEvansLA1936.jpg

StorefrontSelmaALWalkerEvansGD1935.jpg

Streetscape1935WalkerEvansLouisiannaGD.jpg

Untitled+11.jpg

Untitled+6.jpg

Untitled-Women-Talking-1930s-by-Walker-Evans-BHC2908.jpg

WE1-Custom1.jpg

WE5-Custom-720x380.jpg

WE_Louisiana_plantation_1935.jpg

Walker Evans - Auto parts shop_ Atlanta, Georgia, 1936.jpg

Walker Evans - General store interior. Moundville, Alabama, 1936.jpg

Walker Evans - Minstrel poster in Alabama town, 1936.jpg

Walker Evans - New York, New York. 61st Street between 1st and 3rd Avenues. Children playing in the street, 1938.jpg

Walker Evans - Women selling ice cream and cake, Scotts Run, West Virginia, 1935.jpg

Walker-Evans-14.jpg

Walker-Evans-22.jpg

Walker-Evans-23.jpg

Walker-Evans-24.jpg

Walker-Evans-25.jpg

Walker-Evans-27.jpg

Walker-Evans-28 (1).jpg

Walker-Evans-28.jpg

Walker-Evans-General-Store-Interior-600px.jpg

Walker-Evans-Highway-Corner-Reedsville-West-Virginia-1935-Gelatin-silver-print-25.4-×-20.6-cm-The-J.-Paul-Getty-Museum-Los-Angeles.jpg

Walker-Evans-Squatters-Village-1933-Halsted-Gallery.jpg

WalkerEvans1972_04-1800x1808.jpg

Walker_Evans_04.jpeg

Walker_Evans_New_Orleans_street_corner.jpg

abandoned-plantation-house-near-monticello-ga-1936-walker-evans-photograph-library-of-congress-brian-brown-georgia-in-the-great-depression-website-2013.jpg

arcade.jpg

bomb_11_levine_body.jpg

cri_000000119018.jpg

cri_000000135790.jpg

cri_000000320168.jpg

cri_000000324132.jpg

cri_000000397762.jpg

deae8eee520c235fa40f97c059e80250j.jpg

download (1).jpg

download (2).jpg

download (3).jpg

download.jpg

evans17.jpg

evans1_w.jpg

evans_3BedAndStove-1024x786.jpg

evans_SFMO89_1_090302.jpg

evans_w_MIA_17037c_090403.jpg

evans_w_MIA_17039c_090403.jpg

evans_w_MIA_17148c_090403.jpg

evans_w_MIA_17157c_090403.jpg

evans_w_MIA_17165c_090403.jpg

f69aa1485fac808bc3b2f953831ccf9c.jpeg

g1-1-1.jpg

g10-1.jpg

g11-1.jpg

g12-1 (1).jpg

g12-1.jpg

g13-1.jpg

g14-1.jpg

g15-1.jpg

g16-1.jpg

g17-1.jpg

g18-1.jpg

g20-1.jpg

g21-1 (1).jpg

g21-1.jpg

g3-1.jpg

g4.jpg

g5-1.jpg

g7-1.jpg

g8.jpg

g9-1.jpg

hb_1972_742_17.jpg

hb_1987.1100.59.jpg

hb_1987_1100_147.jpg

hb_1988.1030.jpg

hb_1994.253.510.2.jpg

img621.jpg

index.jpg

itemsfs_10671.JPG

itemsfs_10673.JPG

itemsfs_10679.JPG

levine-afterwalker.jpg

lptxq8-b78819658z.120110812121756000gev1194ub.1.jpg

main-image.jpg

ob_ae2c73_flood-refugees-at-mealtime-1937.jpg

p-163-west-virginia-boy-sitting-santa-wr.jpg

rNppcPgaH3tT.jpg

s0743-lg.jpg

tumblr_lvjs94EjsC1qhqfw3o1_500.jpeg

walker-evans-19th-century-gothic-chestnut-hill-massachusetts.jpg

walker-evans-american-1903-1975-new-york-city-yard.jpg

walker-evans-american-1903-1975-north-carolina-wildlife-resources-commission-sign.jpg

walker-evans-aug-reuter-hardware-store.jpg

walker-evans-boots.jpg

walker-evans-convicts-american-south.jpg

walker-evans-depth-of-field-05.jpg

walker-evans-fabbro-blacksmith-shop-1933.jpg

walker-evans-fishermans-house-nova-scotia.jpg

walker-evans-house-in-oak-bluffs-marthas-vineyard.jpg

walker-evans-lunchroom-window-new-york-city-1929.jpg

walker-evans-photographe-de-la-grande-depression-ok-sr-photos-pas-vues,M444325.jpg

walker-evans-sharecroppers-yard-hale-county-alabama.jpg

walker-evans-three-members-of-a-prison-work-gang.jpg

walker-evans-two-women-on-subway.jpg

walker-evans_dock-workers-havana1.jpg

walker_evans__house_and_billboards_in_atlanta__19361364315620494.jpg

walker_evans_photoindex_023.jpg

walkerevans2.jpeg

1 / 331

Walker Evans (1903 - 1975)

Topics: Walker Evans (1903 - 1975)

Walker Evans (November 3, 1903 – April 10, 1975) was an American photographer and photojournalist best known for his work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA) documenting the effects of the Great Depression. Much of Evans's work from the FSA period uses the large-format, 8×10-inch (200×250 mm) view camera. He said that his goal as a photographer was to make pictures that are "literate, authoritative, transcendent".

Many of his works are in the permanent collections of museums and have been the subject of retrospectives at such institutions as the Metropolitan Museum of Art or George Eastman Museum.

He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Jessie (née Crane) and Walker Evans.[3] His father was an advertising director. Walker was raised in an affluent environment; he spent his youth in Toledo, Chicago, and New York City. He attended The Loomis Institute and Mercersburg Academy[4] before graduating from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1922. He studied French literature for a year at Williams College, spending much of his time in the school's library, before dropping out. He returned to New York and worked as a night attendant in the map room of the Public Library.[5] After spending a year in Paris in 1926, he returned to the United States to join a literary and art crowd in New York City. John Cheever, Hart Crane, and Lincoln Kirstein were among his friends. He was a clerk for a stockbroker firm in Wall street from 1927 to 1929.[6]

Evans took up photography in 1928[1] around the time he was living in Ossining, New York.[7] His influences included Eugène Atget and August Sander.[8] In 1930, he published three photographs (Brooklyn Bridge) in the poetry book The Bridge by Hart Crane. In 1931, he made a photo series of Victorian houses in the Boston vicinity sponsored by Lincoln Kirstein.

In May and June 1933, Evans took photographs in Cuba on assignment for Lippincott, the publisher of Carleton Beals' The Crime of Cuba (1933), a "strident account" of the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado. There Evans drank nightly with Ernest Hemingway, who loaned him money to extend his two-week stay an additional week. His photographs documented street life, the presence of police, beggars and dockworkers in rags, and other waterfront scenes. He also helped Hemingway acquire photos from newspaper archives that documented some of the political violence Hemingway described in To Have and Have Not (1937). Fearing that his photographs might be deemed critical of the government and confiscated by Cuban authorities, he left 46 prints with Hemingway. He had no difficulties when returning to the United States, and 31 of his photos appeared in Beals' book. The cache of prints left with Hemingway was discovered in Havana in 2002 and exhibited at an exhibition in Key West.

In 1935, Evans spent two months at first on a fixed-term photographic campaign for the Resettlement Administration (RA) in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. From October on, he continued to do photographic work for the RA and later the Farm Security Administration (FSA), primarily in the Southern United States.

In the summer of 1936, while on leave from the FSA, he and writer James Agee were sent by Fortune magazine on assignment to Hale County, Alabama, for a story the magazine subsequently opted not to run. In 1941, Evans's photographs and Agee's text detailing the duo's stay with three white tenant families in southern Alabama during the Great Depression were published as the groundbreaking book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. Its detailed account of three farming families paints a deeply moving portrait of rural poverty. The critic Janet Malcolm notes that there was a contradiction between a kind of anguished dissonance in Agee's prose and the quiet, magisterial beauty of Evans's photographs of sharecroppers.[11]

The three families headed by Bud Fields, Floyd Burroughs and Frank Tingle, lived in the Hale County town of Akron, Alabama, and the owners of the land on which the families worked told them that Evans and Agee were "Soviet agents," although Allie Mae Burroughs, Floyd's wife, recalled during later interviews her discounting that information. Evans's photographs of the families made them icons of Depression-Era misery and poverty. In September 2005, Fortune revisited Hale County and the descendants of the three families for its 75th anniversary issue.[12] Charles Burroughs, who was four years old when Evans and Agee visited the family, was "still angry" at them for not even sending the family a copy of the book; the son of Floyd Burroughs was also reportedly angry because the family was "cast in a light that they couldn't do any better, that they were doomed, ignorant".[12]

Evans continued to work for the FSA until 1938. That year, an exhibition, Walker Evans: American Photographs, was held at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. This was the first exhibition in the museum devoted to the work of a single photographer. The catalogue included an accompanying essay by Lincoln Kirstein, whom Evans had befriended in his early days in New York.

In 1938, Evans also took his first photographs in the New York City Subway with a camera hidden in his coat. These would be collected in book form in 1966 under the title Many are Called. In 1938 and 1939, Evans worked with and mentored Helen Levitt.

Evans, like such other photographers as Henri Cartier-Bresson, rarely spent time in the darkroom making prints from his own negatives. He only very loosely supervised the making of prints of most of his photographs, sometimes only attaching handwritten notes to negatives with instructions on some aspect of the printing procedure.

Evans was a passionate reader and writer, and in 1945 became a staff writer at Time magazine. Shortly afterward he became an editor at Fortune magazine through 1965. That year, he became a professor of photography on the faculty for Graphic Design at the Yale University School of Art.

In one of his last photographic projects, Evans completed a black and white portfolio of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.'s offices and partners for publication in "Partners in Banking," published in 1968 to celebrate the private bank's 150th anniversary.[13] In 1973 and 1974, he also shot a long series with the then-new Polaroid SX-70 camera, after age and poor health had made it difficult for him to work with elaborate equipment.

The first definitive retrospective of his photographs, which "individually evoke an incontrovertible sense of specific places, and collectively a sense of America," according to a press release, was on view at New York's Museum of Modern Art in early 1971. Selected by John Szarkowski, the exhibit was titled simply Walker Evans.

Evans died at his apartment in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1975.[15] The last person Evans talked to was Hank O'Neal. In reference to the newly created A Vision Shared project, O'Neal recounts that “The picture on the back of the book, of him taking a picture – he actually called me up and told me he had found it”. “And then the next morning I got up and I had a phone call from Leslie Katz, who ran the Eakins Press. And Leslie said: ‘Isn’t it terrible about Walker Evans?’ And I said: ‘What are you talking about?’ He said: ‘He died last night.’ I said: ‘Cut it out. I talked to him last night twice’ … So an hour and a half after we had our conversation, he died. He had a stroke and died.”[16]

In 1994, The Estate of Walker Evans handed over its holdings to New York City's The Metropolitan Museum of Art.[17] The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the sole copyright holder for all works of art in all media by Walker Evans. The only exception is a group of approximately 1,000 negatives in collection of the Library of Congress which were produced for the Resettlement Administration (RA) / Farm Security Administration (FSA). Evans's RA / FSA works are in the public domain.[18]

In 2000, Evans was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.