Through a Soldiers Lens

Beginning in 1954, on assignment for the US Army, the New York based photographer Bill Perlmutter traveled through Europe. Through a Soldier’s Lens shows a selection of his 6 x 6 Rolleiflex images taken in Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

It all started in December 1954, when the then 27-year old soldier boarded a troop carrier to Germany, to start his new assignment as a photographer for the U.S. Army magazine. Even though he had never left his home country and was a bit apprehensive about his future, Perlmutter was looking forward to photographing Europe and visiting all those wonderful places that I had read about and seen in the movies. Almost 60 years after the images were conceived, they clearly document the photographer s sense of the special moment. Every single image becomes a lively piece in the puzzle of remembrance, reporting accurately on the historical period, but also capturing very personal encounters. His insightful work has a long-lasting effect, and allows those pictures to come alive. Again and again. Even after all those many years.