 |
Sol LibsohnAmerican photographer
Date of Birth: 05.02.1914
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Sol Libson
Sol Libson was an American photographer known for his black and white images capturing the lives of ordinary people, including workers, city dwellers, and children. He was born in 1914 in Harlem, New York, to a poor family of immigrants from Poland and Russia.
Early Life and Education
After completing school, Libson attended the City College of New York. Despite his passion for art from a young age, his family could not afford his art education. However, Libson managed to become a model. In the mid-1930s, Libson, who was already an avid photographer by then, joined the 'Film and Photo League', which later split into separate organizations for cinema and photography. Alongside a friend, he co-founded the Photo League in 1936, which became the official organization for photographers in New York City.
Photographic Career
Libson's main focus was on capturing photographs of working-class neighborhoods in Manhattan and other areas of New York City. The League attracted notable photographers such as Berenice Abbott, Margaret Bourke-White, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Richard Avedon, and many others. The League's lectures and exhibitions inspired numerous talented young photographers, who considered Libson their teacher and mentor.
However, with the start of the Cold War and the infamous 'Red Scare', the League was forced to close. It lasted until 1951, and by that time, Libson had gained a reputation as one of the country's most significant and talented documentary photographers.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1947, Libson moved to Roosevelt, a small town in New Jersey, which became his home for the rest of his life. For many years, he taught photography at Trenton High School and Princeton University. Until his death, Sol Libson continued to actively work and exhibit his photographs. One of his images was included in Edward Steichen's famous exhibition 'The Family of Man'.
Sol Libson passed away on January 21, 2001, in Princeton, NJ. His work and contributions to photography continue to inspire and influence many photographers to this day.
