Elliott Erwitt (1928 – 2023) was born in Paris to Russian émigré parents and spent his early years in Milan, Italy, before briefly returning to Paris and then moving to Los Angeles via New York in 1939. His interest in photography began in Hollywood, where he studied at Los Angeles City College. In 1948 he moved to New York City and met Edward Steichen, Robert Capa and Roy Stryker, who became important mentors. After studying film at the New School for Social Research from 1948 to 1950, he spent a year traveling in France and Italy before returning to the United States to launch his career as a professional photographer. In 1951 he was drafted into the army and continued photographing while stationed in Germany and France.
After military service he returned to New York and joined Magnum Photos at Capa’s invitation and later served several terms as its president. Over the next half-century, he became a leading figure in magazine photography, known for portraits, photo essays and advertisements published around the world. His signature style—combining humor, irony and affection for both the famous and the everyday—made his work instantly recognizable. Beginning in 1970 he also worked in filmmaking, producing numerous comedy and satire specials for HBO, and published dozens of books on his photography, with a particular fondness for capturing dogs. A lifelong traveler, he exhibited in major museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris and Zurich’s Kunsthaus. His photographs remain represented by important galleries and are held in prestigious museums and private collections worldwide.
