MNHA

Edward Steichen - The Photographer

duration : 30 minutes

Born in Bivange, Luxembourg, Edward Steichen (1879-1973) is one of the best known American photographers of the 20th century. Well-known for his work as director of the photographic department of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, he ranks among the most important figures in the history of photography. His oeuvre marks the transition from pictorialism to straight photography.
The collection was bequeathed to the MNHA by the artist himself. The presentation also features 44 photographs on loan from the Photographic Library of the City of Luxembourg. In order to guarantee the long-term conservation of the collection's 222 photographs, they are put on display
in cycles of 20 works at a time.
Following a first exhibition of his images at the Musées de l'État (State Museums) in the sixties, Edward Steichen had already donated to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg The Family of Man and The Bitter Years, two of the famous
exhibitions he curated while working for the MoMA.
Currently on display in Clervaux and Dudelange respectively, they mainly feature works by other artists. Grouped under the title Steichen Collections, the photographer's oeuvre can thus be admired in three locations in Luxembourg.