Walker Evans At the
Met
The
Metropolitan Museum of Art is proud to feature a current
exhibition by the late Walker Evans, one of the modern masters
of the lens and an icon in this country. The display, which can
be seen at the Galleries for Drawings, Prints, and Photographs
as well as the Howard Gilman Gallery until May 14th, is
the first comprehensive retrospective of Evans’ work.
Walker Evans is most known for his study of American culture
from the 1920s until the 1970s. His landmark photos include
Alabama cotton farmers, African American churches in the South,
and poignant shots of New York subway riders. This real-life
look at American through Evans’ lens is quite impressive even
to casual patrons, and especially noteworthy considering that
much of the material has been newly acquired by the Met.
Evans’ motto had always been to let the subject of the
picture reveal itself directly to the viewer without the need
for artsy angles or scenery. He was mostly interested in
depicting everyday life activities as well as showing the
effects of new technology—such as the automobile—on society.
Evans was born in St. Louis near the turn of the twentieth
century and over the course of his illustrious life had worked
in Cuba, the United States Government, and even for Time and
Fortune magazines. Additionally, he was also a professor of
photography at Yale for a period of time.
Aside from Evans’ photography, the exhibit will also
showcase personal items such as picture albums, diaries,
letters, and postcards. The Met will support the exhibition with
an extensive amount of educational programs, lectures, films,
and things of that nature, as well as two hardcover books. The
simple style of Walker Evans is very endearing and makes for a
great display, and we wholeheartedly recommend a viewing of his
work, even if you don’t consider yourself a shutterbug.
Following its New York presentation, Walker Evans will
travel to the San Francisco Museum of Modem Art (June 2 -
September 12, 2000) and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
(December 17, 2000 - March 4, 2001).
VISITOR INFORMATION
Hours
Fridays & Saturdays 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sundays, Tuesdays - Thursdays 9:30 a.m. - 5:30
p.m. Mondays Closed
Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, and December
25
Suggested Admission
Adults $10.00
Students & Senior Citizens $5.00
