Exhibition Includes Rare Prints by 20th-Century Master Photographers
BOSTON (August 8, 2019)—Some of the most enduring and powerful photographs of the 20th century, from Edward Steichen’s Gloria Swanson (1924) and André Kertész’s Chez Mondrian, Paris(1926) to Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother (1936) will be on view together for the first time in the United States at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), in Viewpoints: Photographs from the Howard Greenberg Collection. Featuring 150 prints from the Howard Greenberg Collection of Photographs—446 works recently acquired by the MFA—this exhibition showcases the breadth of the collection. Included are defining images from the 20th century made by many of the era’s most notable photographers, such as Dorothea Lange, Henri-Cartier Bresson, Gordon Parks and Robert Frank. The selection of highlights chosen for the exhibition reveals photography’s transformative power and examines its role in contributing to collective memories, celebrating the medium as an art form as well as a cultural, political and social force. In addition to exploring the historical importance of the photographs on view, Viewpoints highlights the material properties of these exceptional prints—many the first print of the image, the only print, or the best existing example. On view from August 10 through December 15, 2019 in the Lois B. and Michael K. Torf Gallery, the exhibition features a video interview with Greenberg and is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue produced by MFA Publications. The acquisition and exhibition of the Howard Greenberg Collection of Photographs were made possible by the Phillip Leonian and Edith Rosenbaum Leonian Charitable Trust. Additional support for the exhibition from the Patricia B. Jacoby Exhibition Fund and The Bruce and Laura Monrad Fund for Exhibitions. Media Sponsor is Boston magazine.
“I am truly thrilled and delighted to have the MFA as the recipient of my personal collection of photographs,” said Greenberg. “Assembled over 35 years and reflecting the unique access I’ve had to so many treasures of 20th-century photography, the collection will be in a perfect resting place at the MFA. The Museum’s enthusiasm for the results of my efforts has been unrelenting. The collection will be married to what is already a world-class museum collection, formed expertly and intently over a long period of time.”
A passionate and discerning pillar in the field, Greenberg above all is a connoisseur. His own experience as a photographer and his early initiation into the world of the darkroom informs his recognition and appreciation of technical mastery, as well as his keen visual sense. Greenberg’s collection is closely related to his professional and personal relationships, which have allowed him special access to photographers’ archives and estates. He has played a key role in establishing the reputations of photographers whose technical and aesthetic contributions had previously been overlooked—including Louis Faurer, David Heath, Leon Levinstein, Saul Leiter and many others. Greenberg’s passion, sense of marvel and excitement of discovery are perhaps what most connect him to the photographs he chose to live with—expressive pictures that invite contemplation. For him, even the most seemingly straightforward photograph, through its composition, print quality and ability to evoke emotion, can transport the viewer to another place somewhere between the real and the abstract. This deeply personal and emotional connection with the objects adds a layer of humanity, intimacy, compassion and empathy to the collection, demonstrating his deep devotion, both personal and professional, to the field of photography.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating our acquisition of this unparalleled collection, which could not have been created by a collector other than Howard Greenberg,” said Kristen Gresh, Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Senior Curator of Photographs. “It is a result of Howard’s role in the field of photography and his constant search for the transcendental moments found within this magical medium.”
Beginning with a selection of Greenberg’s particular favorites, photographs in Viewpoints are divided into seven themes: Capturing Modernism; Picturing the City; Conflicts and Crises; Bearing Witness; Fleeting Moments; Defining Portraits; and Music, Fashion and Celebrity. Below is a selection of highlights from the exhibition, accompanied by Greenberg’s own words about each print:
The MFA possesses a pioneering photography collection, initiated in 1924 when Alfred Stieglitz donated 27 of his photographs to the Museum. Through purchase and by gift, the collection has grown to approximately 15,000 photographs, spanning the entire history of the medium from the 1840s to the present. Special strengths of the MFA’s holdings include daguerreotypes by Southworth and Hawes; sublime landscapes of the American West; turn-of-the-century Pictorialism; the Lane Collection (including Charles Sheeler’s entire photographic estate of nearly 2,500 works, an equal number of images by Edward Weston, more than 450 photographs by Ansel Adams and 100 works by Imogen Cunningham); European photography from between the wars (including the Sonja Bullaty and Angelo Lomeo Collection of Josef Sudek Photographs); European post-war Subjective photography; sizable groups of works by Harry Callahan and Emmet Gowin; mountain photographs by Bradford Washburn; portraits of internationally known figures by Yousuf Karsh; and fashion and celebrity images by Herb Ritts. The MFA consistently displays photography from its collection in special exhibitions, sharing works with the Museum’s visitors and wider audiences beyond Boston through publications and traveling exhibitions.
The exhibition is accompanied by the catalogue Viewpoints: Photographs from the Howard Greenberg Collection (2019, MFA Publications), written by the exhibition curator Kristen Gresh and Anne E. Havinga, Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Chair of Photography.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is recognized for the quality and scope of its collection, representing all cultures and time periods. The Museum has more than 140 galleries displaying its encyclopedic collection, which includes Art of the Americas; Art of Europe; Contemporary Art; Art of Asia; Art of Africa and Oceania; Art of Ancient Greece and Rome; Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East; Prints and Drawings; Photography; Textile and Fashion Arts; and Musical Instruments. Open seven days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Tuesday, 10 am–5 pm; and Wednesday through Friday, 10 am–10 pm. Admission (which includes one repeat visit within 10 days) is $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students age 18 and older, and includes entry to all galleries and special exhibitions. Opportunities for free and discounted admission for students, teachers, children, EBT card holders and military personnel and veterans can be found at mfa.org/visit, including free access for college students through the MFA’s University Membership and Pozen Community College Access program. The Museum is free for all after 4 pm every Wednesday and offers 11 free community celebrations annually. The Museum’s mobile MFA Guide is available at ticket desks and the Sharf Visitor Center for $5, members; $6, non-members; and $4, youths. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The MFA is located on the Avenue of the Arts at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. For more information, call 617.267.9300, visit mfa.org or follow the MFA on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.