Elliot Erwitt (1928–2023) was a French-born American documentary photographer celebrated for his witty and candid black-and-white images. After moving to the U.S. as a child, he began his career in New York City, where he was mentored by Robert Capa and eventually joined the prestigious Magnum Photos agency in 1953, later serving as its president. Erwitt’s distinctive style captured ironic and humorous moments in everyday life, focusing on subjects ranging from celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Richard Nixon to ordinary people, children, and dogs. His work was published in major magazines like Life and Look, and he also directed films and documentaries. Erwitt’s legacy is defined by a vast body of work that reveals his unique perspective on the human condition and his ability to find humor in the mundane.
