Weegee by Weegee

Legendary photographer Weegee (born Usher Fellig, 1899-1968) transformed life into a tragicomedy in which the less privileged inspired compassion, the powerful mockery, women desire, and children empathy. At the essence of his oeuvre is the exploration of human nature and especially its inclination towards ridiculous behavior and morbid impulses. Working especially during late hours in New York City, while most of his competitors were asleep and his subjects at their most vulnerable, he earned himself a singular spot in American photojournalism of the 1930s and ’40s. His signature topics––crimes, arrests, fires, accidents and social events––were prompted by the gruesome appetite of the tabloids he collaborated with.

This show at the Baker Museum of Art, Naples gathers over 120 images by the artist from the collection of philanthropist and photographer Jean Pigozzi. Organized according to the time the photos were presumably taken, from dawn through the dead of night, the exhibition is an invitation to “spend a day with Weegee.” The photographer’s presence is suggested throughout the gallery by the use of autobiographical comments and notes on the works featured. Through November 8, 2015