Melancholic and intimate – unseen 50s and 60s New York by master street photographer Saul Leiter will positively blow your mind

A retrospective exhibition of master street photographer Saul Leiter's work is currently on display at the Leica Gallery in Frankfurt. Titled "Through the Eyes of Saul Leiter," the exhibit showcases a collection of the photographer's most iconic images as well as some lesser-known pieces that reveal his unique aesthetic and vision.

Born in Pittsburgh, Leiter moved to New York at the age of 23 and left behind a life that had been planned by his Orthodox rabbi father. Initially aiming to become a painter, Leiter began experimenting with color photography in the late 1940s. He earned a living primarily as a fashion photographer for magazines including Harper’s Bazaar and Nova, but his true passion lay in his own personal work, which he pursued without any desire for recognition or fame.

Leiter's photographs are known for their painterly, almost abstract style, capturing everyday moments on the streets in a poetic and intimate manner. The exhibition features a carefully curated selection of his iconic work, alongside some lesser-known pieces, revealing his distinctive perspective that transformed everyday scenes into delicate and melancholic images.

Leiter's legacy is being recognized more than ever, with the exhibition highlighting his groundbreaking contributions to street photography, as well as his remarkable collection of over 80,000 works, currently being organized by the Saul Leiter Foundation.