Walker Evans (American, 1903-1975)
Evans is considered one of the earliest and most impactful American documentary photographers for his ability to capture life in the US. He had a passion for literature and initially desired to become a writer, moving to Paris before returning to New York in 1928 and turning to the camera. He was most successful during the years of the Great Depression when he traveled throughout the South with the Farm Security Administration to document the rural poor. Here, traveling with writer James Agee, he took one of his most renowned photographs, Alabama Cotton Tenant Farmer’s Wife. Evans’s talent to express everyday life and visualize narratives are seen in the portrait of his creative collaborator, Agee.
Born in St. Louis, Evans moved around the US. His works can be found in many of the most renowned collections in America, including Art Institute of Chicago; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
