Whether candid or posed, in black and white or color, Orkin's photographs of women reveal her consistently sympathetic eye

In 1951, her photograph American Girl in Italy--depicting a young woman on a street flanked by whistling men--made Ruth Orkin (1921-85) a household name. Now, a new facet of her work emerges through sensational never-before-seen negatives and slides. Women illustrates Orkin's devoted, humorous, witty and sensitive documentation of women's life in the 1940s and 1950s. She records the illustrious goings-on in beauty salons and at cocktail parties, at dog shows and on Hollywood sets. We meet Lauren Bacall, Jane Russell, Joan Taylor and Doris Day, but also waitresses, stewardesses, female soldiers and best friends. Whether gazing directly into the camera, looking away from it or even laughing at something outside of the frame, Orkin's snapshots of women reflect their increased career mobility, consumer power and social influence in the postwar era.

The first publication to document the photojournalist's teenage cross-country American bike journey

At the age of 17, American photojournalist Ruth Orkin (1921-85) traveled across the United States alone, with nothing but her bicycle, photo equipment and $25 in her pocket. Over a four-month period, she took 350 photographs: urban scenes, numerous self-portraits and striking compositions framed by her bicycle. In each city she visited, local newspapers covered her story, interviewing and photographing her. With the unexpected publicity, she was invited everywhere, given tickets to shows and even gifted a new two-wheeler. Orkin's stated aim upon departure was to visit the New York World's Fair, but the transcontinental adventure proved far more decisive. It was a defining moment in her personal and artistic development, confirming the old adage: it's not the destination, it's the journey.
The inaugural project of one of the great 20th-century American photographers is unveiled here for the very first time. A text by French photography historian Clément Chéroux accompanies the photo project, illuminating the historical and aesthetic context of Orkin's American romp. An image of a bold, modern woman with a bold, modern photographic philosophy emerges into view.

Classic portraits, New York scenes and more from the brilliant and indefatigable American photographer

A Wall Street Journal 2021 holiday gift guide pick

American photographer Ruth Orkin earned acclaim for her work as she combined her love for travel and her experience growing up in Hollywood into a practice that captured the cinematic elements of everyday life and revealed the humanity of the upper crust.
The atmospheric photographs taken by Orkin in cities such as Florence, New York and London still shape the image of these metropolises today: her street scenes consistently offer penetrating insights into the personality of her human subjects as well as their environments. This unique quality also manifests in her celebrity portraits of figures such as Albert Einstein, Marlon Brando, Tennessee Williams and Lauren Bacall: though clearly posed, these photographs offer a certain level of candor that allows the viewer to connect with the sitters on a human level. She also pursued filmmaking with two successful features, Little Fugitive (1953) and Lovers and Lollipops (1955)--and she did all of this as one of the few female practitioners in the field.
Published on the occasion of what would have been the photographer's 100th birthday, this illustrated volume celebrates Orkin's life and career with an equally extensive and fascinating overview of this exceptional artist's oeuvre.
Ruth Orkin (1921-85) studied at Los Angeles City College. Working as a freelance photographer, she published in magazines such as Life, Look and Ladies' Home Journal. She was awarded an Oscar for the film Little Fugitive, which she made with her husband in 1953. A World Through My Window (1978) is her best-known book of photographs.