Weegee - From the Berinson Collection 14 December 2007 - 5 March 2008

Foam presents an exhibition of work by the legendary photographer Weegee, regarded as the prototypical modern photojournalist and one of the most important photographers of the 20^th century. His uncompromising and unprettified photographs have an immediate, almost violent impact. They show crimes and accidents in the New York of the 1930s and 1940s, but also document life and events on the streets of the city. All 231 black-and-white photographs are vintage prints from the collection of Hendrik A. Berinson, compiled over a period of more than 20 years. This is the single most important and extensive collection of Weegee’s work made up exclusively of original prints. The exhibition contains many of Weegee’s most famous images and photographs, many of which have never been reproduced.

Weegee was born Usher Fellig in Zloczew, near Lemberg, in 1899. Lemberg was at the time capital of Galicia, but is now no more than a Ukrainian provincial town. In 1906 his parents decided to emigrate to the United States. His father left first, and sent for his family in 1910. At immigration, Usher’s first name was changed to Arthur, which was to remain his official name until 1938, when he himself adopted the nickname Weegee.
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