Walker Evans

Date of Birth: November 3, 1903

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: April 10, 1975

Biography

Walker Evans was an American photographer renowned for his work documenting the Great Depression era. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Evans initially pursued literature and writing before turning to photography. His most famous work was created during his tenure with the Farm Security Administration (FSA), where he captured the stark reality and human suffering caused by the Great Depression. Evans’s work is characterized by its stark, unembellished portrayal of American life, and he is considered one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. His images have been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications, and his influence extends into the realms of both documentary and artistic photography.

5 Interesting Facts about Walker Evans

1. Walker Evans collaborated with writer James Agee on the book “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men,” which documented the lives of impoverished tenant farmers during the Great Depression.

2. Evans’s work was featured in the first solo photography exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City in 1938.

3. He influenced a generation of photographers with his candid, unposed shots that captured the essence of everyday life.

4. Evans also worked as a photojournalist for Fortune magazine for two decades, from 1945 to 1965.

5. His work is part of the permanent collections of many prestigious institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Library of Congress.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Walker Evans

1. “Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long.”

2. “Photography is not an art. Neither is painting nor sculpture nor literature nor music. They are only different branches of the same tree.”

3. “The eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.”

4. “Good photography is unpretentious.”

5. “Documentary photography is, however, sometimes misrepresented as a science or an art. It is neither, but rather a means of getting facts.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While precise figures for Walker Evans’s net worth are not readily available, his legacy and contributions to photography have ensured that his works are highly valued. Original prints and collections of his photographs have been sold for substantial sums at auctions, often fetching prices in the tens of thousands of dollars.