CENTENNIAL SAUL LEITER | Howard Greenberg Gallery
©Saul Leiter, Barbara, n.d.
Written by Max Wiener
Photo edited by Max Amos-Flom
The lens of Saul Leiter’s camera speaks to us like a whisper in the dark. It’s not too overpowering or overt, but rather inviting; we are coaxed us into the world of his photography. His imagery is enticing, and through his photographs we are taken on a journey through worlds far unlike our very own. At New York’s Howard Greenberg Gallery, Saul Leiter: Centennial marks a paramount celebration in the photographer’s pantheon, recognizing the iconic artist on what would have been his 100th birthday. Such a joyous occasion is marked with the presentation of 40 of Leiter’s works, many of which have been previously unreleased to the public. Showing off his range as both a photographer and a painter, Centennial displays the singular and unmatched mastery of Leiter like no other series has. Passing from piece to piece, we understand his brilliance better than ever before. The exhibition opened on December 2nd and has a scheduled closing date of February 10th.
©Saul Leiter, Untitled, 1950s
Leiter’s photography possessed a unique quality of artisanry, having the ability to place us directly in his captured world. His subjects do not contort their lives around his lens, and rarely do they acknowledge its presence. Because of this, we feel, as the viewer, as if we are living the life of the subject; we become the art. This is incredibly important in the analysis of Leiter’s work, and it emphasizes its societal meaning greater than ever. He showed us an undoctored world and delivered us truth in raw fashion. Much like contemporaries Robert Frank and Fred Herzog, Leiter recorded; nothing was staged. His photography shows us what has changed and what has remained stagnant.
©Saul Leiter, Untitled, date unknown
Leiter has an alluring and incredible ability to capture human emotion. Halloween, c. 1952 is a particularly haunting image in the series, and it proves to be one of Centennial’s focal points. The eyes of his two subjects peer right into our souls, invading our privacy and becoming one with our minds. They speak no words but we hear their voices, and throughout the exhibition their eyes follow us. They are not trapped, rather uninterested. They rely on us to break them from their spell of boredom and to show them an enlightened world.
©Saul Leiter, Halloween, c.1952
Fay c. 1948 is perhaps the series’ most striking image. It is profoundly sensual and intimate, and even in a crowded gallery one feels completely alone while looking at it. It brings out our innermost feelings of lust and longing, and we yearn for companionship while looking at this photo. Perhaps this is the true Saul Leiter experience condensed into one frame. Centennial not only cements Leiter as one of the most important artists of his generation, but of all time. If he were here to see us celebrate him, he would be overjoyed.
©Saul Leiter, Fay, c.1948
