“Spectacle Unveiled: Weegee Through the Lens of Urban Life”


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Weegee, Photographers at Premier, c.1951. © International Center of Photography/Getty Images

The International Center of Photography | 84 Ludlow Street, New York

On Display January 23-May 5, 2025

Opening January 23, 5-8PM

The International Center of Photography (ICP) is delighted to unveil Weegee: Society of the Spectacle, an exhibition brought forth in collaboration with Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paris, and curated by Clément Chéroux, who is the Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson.

This showcase reexamines Weegee’s audacious, boundary-expanding perspective and honors his groundbreaking contribution to the documentation of spectacle, ranging from crime and calamity on the streets of New York City to warped portraits of legendary Hollywood stars. The exhibition will include a fresh publication produced by the Fondation and Thames & Hudson that investigates the influence of Weegee’s artistry and his critical stance on urban spectacle. ICP is thrilled to present the new English-language edition of this significant inquiry into Weegee’s oeuvre.

Weegee: Society of the Spectacle represents the sixth prominent display of Weegee’s work at ICP and the first since its relocation to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the very locale that Weegee transformed into an urban performance stage through his photography. This exhibition arrives at a crucial time when his insights on the blurred boundaries between reality and performance, as well as news and entertainment, feel increasingly relevant in the era of smartphones and viral media where everyone is both an observer and a consumer of spectacle.

Primarily sourced from ICP’s Weegee collection, which holds his entire studio archive and also consists of the most extensive collection of the photographer’s creations globally, Weegee: Society of the Spectacle is a re-examination of the photographer’s visual commentary on the society of his era, linking his initial career chronicling New York City streets to his subsequent endeavors in the glamorized realm of Hollywood celebrities and innovative image distortions. Frequently perceived as two separate phases in his career, the works in Weegee: Society of the Spectacle contend against this division by highlighting how Weegee’s examination of spectacle endured across various contexts—from crime scenes and fires to glamorous red carpet events. Weegee’s brilliant portrayal of the ‘society of spectators’ captures both the raw, day-to-day urban realities and the enticing charm of celebrity.

“While he may never have envisioned images being so central to modern existence, Weegee’s contentious and foresighted viewpoint on urban living compels us to contemplate how we now exist concurrently as both consumers and the consumed,” Elisabeth Sherman, Senior Curator and Director of Exhibitions and Collections at ICP, stated. “In this era where technology and perpetual image sharing shape our experience, Weegee’s work prompts us to rethink the role of the camera—not just as a witness but as an active contributor to the formation of spectacle.”

Clément Chéroux, Director at Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, remarked, “Weegee’s creations emphasize his capability to capture extremes in life, from high society to the underbelly. Often operating by night, Weegee’s portrayals of crime, fire, and urban disturbances expose the stark realities of New York during the 1930s and 1940s. His later pivot to Hollywood did not divert him from focusing on spectacle but rather magnified his satirical lens, as he employed playful distortions of celebrities that critiqued the American fixation on fame.”

This exhibition will underscore three recurring motifs in Weegee’s work. The Spectacle of the News centers on his nighttime shots of crime sites, vehicular mishaps, and fires, where the observers are as crucial as the incidents themselves. The Society of Spectators portrays Weegee’s gaze directed towards individuals on the outskirts of the central action—from high-society galas to street gatherings—highlighting that being a spectator is part of the spectacle. Hollywood Distortions emphasizes Weegee’s later experience, during which he experimented with methods that mocked Hollywood celebrities through exaggerated photo-caricatures, delivering a pointed commentary on the phenomenon of fame.

The publication accompanying the exhibition, Weegee: Society of the Spectacle, delves deeper into these themes, featuring essays by leading photography scholars including Clément Chéroux, Isabelle Bonnet, David Campany, and Cynthia Young, along with rare archival material that enhances the viewer’s comprehension of Weegee’s intricate legacy. The book, released by Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson and Thames & Hudson, will be available for purchase at ICP’s bookstore and selected retailers.

For additional details, visit icp.org.

Exhibition Support

Weegee: Society of the Spectacle is curated by Clément Chéroux, Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paris.

The exhibition is generously backed by the Trellis Charitable Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and ICP Exhibitions Committee members – Luana Alesio, Deborah Brown, Romy Cohen, Marguerite Gelfman, Vasant Nayak, Elizabeth Rea, Benita Sakin, Magali Smith, Helena Sokoloff, and Richard Stern.

Exhibitions at ICP receive partial funding from Caryl Englander, Almudena Legorreta, ICP Board of Trustees, Shubert Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, along with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts, supported by the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

About The International Center of Photography

The International Center of Photography (ICP) stands as the premier institution dedicated to photography and visual culture across the globe. Founded in 1974 by Cornell Capa to advocate “concerned photography”—socially and politically aware images capable of enlightening and transforming the world—ICP through exhibitions, educational initiatives, community outreach, and public programs provides a forum for dialogue concerning the power of the image. Since its establishment, ICP has showcased over 700 exhibitions, offered thousands of classes, and hosted a diverse array of public programs. In January 2020, ICP commenced its new integrated center located at 84 Ludlow Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. ICP honors the original custodians of this land, the Lenape people, and other Indigenous populations. Visit icp.org to discover more about the museum and its offerings.

About Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

Founded by Henri Cartier-Bresson, his spouse Martine Franck, and their daughter Mélanie, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson opened in Paris in May 2003. Acknowledged as a prominent public interest organization, the Fondation is dedicated to showcasing the works of its two original artists through organizing exhibitions in France and internationally, in partnership with esteemed institutions. Over the past twenty years, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson has cemented its position as a leading photographic establishment, due to its unique exhibition program that features both its own collection and the works of other artists.

The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson actively promotes contemporary photography through its grant schemes and awards, including the biennial HCB Prize and the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson Honorary Award, recognizing the entirety of the recipient’s career.


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