Weegee
UNITED STATES
in collaboration with @berinsongalerie
Weegee, whose real name was Arthur Fellig, was a legendary photographer known for capturing the raw essence of New York City in the mid-20th century. He was born in 1899, in Złoczów, Austria-Hungary (now part of Ukraine). In 1909, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. Growing up in the urban melting pot, Weegee developed a fascination with the city's diverse characters and chaotic energy, which would later become the defining subjects of his photography.
Weegee's unique approach to photojournalism caught the attention of newspapers, and his gritty, noir-style images started appearing in prominent publications like the New York Post or the Daily News. He became a pioneer of tabloid journalism and was renowned for arriving at crime scenes almost instantly, earning him the moniker "Weegee the Famous."
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Weegee
Weegee's photography was characterized by its stark realism and unfiltered portrayal of human life. He often used a 4x5 Speed Graphic camera, equipped with flashbulbs, allowing him to capture powerful and haunting images, even in the darkest of locations. His candid shots of people caught in moments of distress, curiosity, or celebration revealed the underbelly of New York, making the city itself a central character in his work.
