Harry Gruyaert's vibrant photographs of New York burst with energy, from kids opening fire hydrants to yellow cabs zooming by. The Belgian photographer, known for his innovative use of color, has captured the Big Apple's dazzling contrasts for over 50 years.
A Visual Journey Through New York
Gruyaert's images showcase towering skylines, neon-lit diners, multicultural neighborhoods, and fleeting street scenes. His work is featured in the new book Harry Gruyaert: New York, published by Thames and Hudson, with text by acclaimed French filmmaker Cédric Klapisch.
The Magic of New York's Light
Klapisch notes, "There's a particular kind of light there. The sunlight is sharp and the shadows of the skyscrapers sometimes plunge the streets into a deep penumbra." He adds that living in New York reveals a city far more subtle and complex than its gridlike reputation.
Capturing Cosmopolitan Diversity
"Living in New York means experiencing chaos and diversity. It's the very definition of 'cosmopolitan,'" Klapisch writes. Gruyaert's photography focuses on otherness, creating a portrait of a multicultural population that welcomes strangers.
Color as a Structural Element
Klapisch compares Gruyaert to great colorists like Stephen Shore, Helen Levitt, and William Eggleston. "His images follow in the footsteps of photographers who are very conscious of the key role that color plays in the structure of an image."
The Energy of the Streets
Looking through Gruyaert's selection gives the feeling of walking down a New York street: an effervescence, a commotion, a frenetic fusion of people, signs, and cars. The city is a magnificent, many-colored melee of social contrast and ethnic diversity.
From Banality to Art
Klapisch observes that while millions take photos, Gruyaert notices the banal and turns it into something else. "When I look at his photos, I immediately see life. They turn into characters in a potential movie."
Fictional Vignettes
Klapisch's text includes fictional vignettes that blur reality and imagination. One tells of a man stuck in a raincoat gifted by his mother-in-law, while another describes a difficult decision about a beloved pet.
Elevating the Real
"To me, the purpose of photography is to make the banal beautiful. Harry elevates the real by never seeing it as elevated," Klapisch writes. Gruyaert's work celebrates the man on the street, building a multicolored map of humanity.
Harry Gruyaert, born in 1941 in Antwerp, Belgium, currently lives in Belgium. His New York photographs span from 1972 to 2017, offering a timeless glimpse into the city's soul.
