Elliott Erwitt – Palermo Palazzo Reale, Italy

From dogs to humans, from ordinary people to great figures such as Marilyn Monroe, JFK, Muhammad Ali and many others: here are the photos that have become icons of our society. The exhibition is of the highest quality: the curatorial team has chosen, in fact, an unpublished selection with the most iconic and significant photos from the summa of the Master’s production, with the series ICONS, Kolor, Family, Self Portrait on display. 190 works, of which 110 are on display and over 80 in an HD video projection. The exhibition is organized by the Federico II Foundation with the Patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the Consulate General of the United States of America Naples. There is also space for social inclusion: four people with disabilities have signed a seasonal work contract and will be employed precisely to cope with the large flows expected for the exhibition.

[PALERMO] The Federico II Foundation presented to the press this morning at the Royal Palace in Palermo the exhibition of one of the greatest photographers in history: Elliott Erwitt, known throughout the world for his shots, which have become a symbol of our society, true anthropological reference systems to explore and evoke the most important historical events. Erwitt represents one of the most influential and original figures in the world of photography because he was able to capture moments of everyday life with a unique vision, turning them into iconic images that combine humor and depth of
observation. Former President of the famous Magnum Photos, Elliott Erwitt synthesizes in his works his interest in man and the taste for the moment that he knows how to capture with unparalleled magic. Among his favorite subjects are dogs: his ability to observe and represent the habits of these animals and their owners has given life to images that tell a lot about society and human relationships. His dog photographs have been collected in several books, true references for lovers of photography and animals. No less important is his work as a photographer of famous people. Erwitt immortalized legendary figures such as Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Muhammad Ali, creating true portraits that go beyond simple schematization, to reveal introspection and surprising aspects of his subjects. Famous is the photo of Marilyn Monroe with her dress rising, taken on the set of “The Seven Year Itch,” an image that has become part of the iconography of the twentieth century, with a value almost identical to that of the most famous paintings in the history of art.

“The Federico II Foundation – said Gaetano Galvagno, President of the ARS and of the Foundation itself – wants to be a protagonist on the international scene, offering the almost one million visitors who in 2024 admired the historical beauties of the Royal Palace of Palermo, an important exhibition offer with a cosmopolitan scope. With the Elliott Erwitt exhibition, the Royal Palace of Palermo continues to experience an exciting season of contemporary art, giving visitors an entire century of news and refined studies that the artist presents to us through his photographic lens”.
“Elliott Erwitt – said Biba Giacchetti, co-curator of the exhibition, one of Erwitt’s greatest international experts – was not just a photographer, but an unparalleled visual narrator, capable of transforming the moment into history, the everyday into art, irony into poetry. His images evoke emotions in those who observe them that move on different registers, from emotion to smile, to the most spontaneous amusement. He passed away in November 2023 at the age of 95, leaving us an immense legacy: an archive of photographs that cross eras, cultures and feelings with a universal language, inviting us to look at the world with more indulgence and wonder, always standing by our side in that profound lightness that he himself defined as “The Art of Observation”. “Elliott Erwitt – commented co-curator Gabriele Accornero – is, like his photographs: ironic, enigmatic, elusive, ethereal. Behind all this, one perceives a great personality and a sharp intelligence, almost disconcerting. The artistic value of Erwitt’s work seems to be achieved almost incidentally, it is never pursued and perhaps for this reason it is so often centered. Sterile reading schemes borrowed from the History of Art do not suit Erwitt, he only cares about taking good photographs; Erwitt’s photographs are generally light, carefree, luminous. But this does not take away the fact that some images rise to manifestos”.

Elliott Erwitt (Elio Romano Erwitz) was born on July 26, 1928 in Paris to Russian parents of Jewish origin. He died in his sleep in his New York home on November 29, 2023. At over ninety years of age, and until his death, he continued to observe the world with curious eyes and to capture, with his unmistakable blend of humor and depth, the essence of the human condition. His work remains a testimony to the power of photography as a tool for communicating and understanding the world, capable of overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers to speak directly to people’s souls. The exhibition is of the highest quality: the curatorial team has chosen, in fact, an unpublished selection of the most iconic and significant photos from the summa of the Master’s production, with the series ICONS, Kolor, Family, Self Portrait on display. English: Even from a quantitative point of view, the visitor is faced with an impressive exhibition: over 190 visible works, of which 110 are on display and over 80 in an HD video projection. The large size of the images, both in Black & White and in Kolor, is decisive, all presented with passe-partout and museum frames, with over 40 works measuring 100 x 150 cm. The installation was specifically designed to ensure an emotional immersion in the journey. The exhibition is also a tribute to the affectionate, ironic and deeply human gaze that the artist directs towards the female universe, with an entirely dedicated space. In 2015, Elliott Erwitt dedicated an entire volume to women. Charles Flowers, in the book’s foreword, writes: “With four ex-wives, four adult daughters and four granddaughters — not to mention the many women who, over the decades, have not placed themselves in any of these categories — Erwitt has accumulated many answers to the question of the nature of women.” The soundtrack to the visit is a playlist taken from the historic Simon & Garfunkel concert in Central Park Manhattan, the place where Elliot lived in a Penthouse Studio and where the exhibition portrays the photographer in an original video interview, communicating his human side. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue by Edizioni Fondazione Federico II and a dedicated line of merchandising. HIS CAREER. His career began after studying photography at Los Angeles City College. His skills did not go unnoticed, in fact in 1948, when he met Robert Capa, he was invited to join Magnum, where he would work with Henri Cartier-Bresson and Marc Riboud. This environment and the related comparisons formed the basis for his artistic vision, the result of a perfect balance between reportage and visual poetry. What distinguishes Erwitt’s work is his ability to find moments of extraordinary beauty and meaning in the most ordinary situations, to capture the irony and absurdity of the human condition, creating images that make people smile and reflect at the same time.

SOCIAL INCLUSION PROJECT
During the press conference, a social inclusion project strongly desired by President Galvagno for the Federico II Foundation was also made official. For the first time, four people with disabilities have signed a seasonal work contract that will lead them to work in the Monumental Complex of Palazzo Reale for the summer months, precisely in conjunction with the large flows that are expected for the Elliott Erwitt exhibition.