New York City, 1953

photograph by Erwitt

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July 21, 2026

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The photograph "New York City, 1953" was taken by Elliott Erwitt, a French-born American photographer known for capturing the humor and irony of everyday life. This iconic image, which includes his first wife and six-day-old daughter, was featured in the landmark 1955 exhibition "The Family of Man" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Erwitt's work, often characterized by its candid and insightful portrayal of people and situations, aligns with the genre of street photography, which gained prominence with the advent of portable cameras like the Leica. His ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary made him a significant figure in postwar photography.123

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Elliott Erwitt
In 1955 his photo New York City, 1953, an image of his first wife and his six-day-old daughter, was included in the landmark exhibition “The Family of Man” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and it has since become one of the most iconic images from…
Read More
In 1955 his photo New York City, 1953, an image of his first wife and his six-day-old daughter, was included in the landmark exhibition “The Family of Man” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and it has since become one of the most iconic images from…
Read More