Helen Levitt: Street Photographs

Photographed in her native New York, Levitt’s images capture strangers in the street in fleeting moments of whimsy, along with the often humorous messages of chalk drawings and graffiti.

Black-and-white photograph of a woman in front of a brownstone, holding a watering hose.

Black-and-white photograph of a brick wall with chalk grafitti that readsy, I love you Newton by Mere Scoot

Black-and-white photograph of an African American man seated on the front bumper of a parked car.

Black-and-white photograph of a wall with torn advertisements, and a moulded tin panel with a chalk drawing of a face.

Color photograph of five children playing on the sidewalk.

Black-and-white photograph of a young woman looking at the camera seated in the lap of an older woman who is looking away.

Black-and-white photograph of a chalk drawing of a house and two trees, captioned "Contry."

Black-and-white photograph depicting a sidewalk chalk drawing of a train on an elevated bridge, mountains, trees, and sun.

Black-and-white photograph of a young boy climbing a wall in a disheveled hallway.

Black-and-white photograph of a tall, curved tree, with one boy climbing near its top, and another leaning against its trunk at the bottom.

Helen Levitt: Street Photographs

Photographed in her native New York, Levitt’s images capture strangers in the street in fleeting moments of whimsy, along with the often humorous messages of chalk drawings and graffiti.

Black-and-white photograph of a woman in front of a brownstone, holding a watering hose. — Helen Levitt, Bronx, New York, ca. 1942

gelatin silver print, 9-5/8 x 10-1/4 inches (mount) [24.5 x 26.0 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a brick wall with chalk grafitti that readsy, I love you Newton by Mere Scoot — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1940

gelatin silver print, 6-1/4 x 8 inches (image & sheet) [15.9 x 20.3 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of an African American man seated on the front bumper of a parked car. — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1945

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a wall with torn advertisements, and a moulded tin panel with a chalk drawing of a face. — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1940

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Color photograph of five children playing on the sidewalk. — Helen Levitt, New York, 1972

dye-transfer print, 15-7/8 x 19-7/8 inches (sheet) [40.3 x 50.5 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young woman looking at the camera seated in the lap of an older woman who is looking away. — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1942

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a chalk drawing of a house and two trees, captioned "Contry." — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1939

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph depicting a sidewalk chalk drawing of a train on an elevated bridge, mountains, trees, and sun. — Helen Levitt, New York, 1938-48

gelatin silver print, 6-3/4 x 8-5/8 inches (mount) [17.2 x 21.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young boy climbing a wall in a disheveled hallway. — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1938

gelatin silver print, 10 x 7-1/2 inches (mount) [25.4 x 19.1 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a tall, curved tree, with one boy climbing near its top, and another leaning against its trunk at the bottom. — Helen Levitt, New York, ca. 1942

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a woman in front of a brownstone, holding a watering hose.

Helen LevittBronx, New York

ca. 1942

gelatin silver print, 9-5/8 x 10-1/4 inches (mount) [24.5 x 26.0 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a brick wall with chalk grafitti that readsy, I love you Newton by Mere Scoot

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1940

gelatin silver print, 6-1/4 x 8 inches (image & sheet) [15.9 x 20.3 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of an African American man seated on the front bumper of a parked car.

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1945

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a wall with torn advertisements, and a moulded tin panel with a chalk drawing of a face.

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1940

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Color photograph of five children playing on the sidewalk.

Helen LevittNew York

1972

dye-transfer print, 15-7/8 x 19-7/8 inches (sheet) [40.3 x 50.5 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young woman looking at the camera seated in the lap of an older woman who is looking away.

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1942

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a chalk drawing of a house and two trees, captioned "Contry."

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1939

gelatin silver print, 11 x 14 inches (sheet) [27.9 x 35.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph depicting a sidewalk chalk drawing of a train on an elevated bridge, mountains, trees, and sun.

Helen LevittNew York

1938-48

gelatin silver print, 6-3/4 x 8-5/8 inches (mount) [17.2 x 21.9 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a young boy climbing a wall in a disheveled hallway.

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1938

gelatin silver print, 10 x 7-1/2 inches (mount) [25.4 x 19.1 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a tall, curved tree, with one boy climbing near its top, and another leaning against its trunk at the bottom.

Helen LevittNew York

ca. 1942

gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (sheet) [35.6 x 27.9 cm]