American Girl in Italy

photograph by Orkin

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Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

The photograph American Girl in Italy was taken in 1951 by Ruth Orkin. It depicts a young woman walking down an Italian street, with a group of men looking at her. This image became an iconic example of the street photography genre. Orkin, an American photographer and filmmaker, was known for her work capturing contemporary urban life. She also traveled extensively, photographing musicians and documenting life in Israel.1

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Ruth Orkin
Her photograph American Girl in Italy (1951)—which captured a woman walking down a street in Italy and being ogled by a group of men—became an iconic image of the street photography genre.
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Her photograph American Girl in Italy (1951)—which captured a woman walking down a street in Italy and being ogled by a group of men—became an iconic image of the street photography genre.
Read More