Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City 

Evelyn Hofer (American, born Germany, 1922-2009) was a highly innovative photographer whose pioneering work spanned five decades. She produced her most notable photographs for a series of photobooks, published between 1959 and 1967, that focused on European and American cities, including Florence, London, New York, Washington, DC., and a volume on the country of Spain. Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City features more than 100 vintage prints from these projects, and is the first major museum exhibition of photographer’s work in the United States in over fifty years.

Despite her prolific career, Hofer remained underrecognized in her lifetime. At a time when spontaneous black and white pictures were the hallmarks of street photography, Hofer favored the detailed precision of large-format cameras, and worked in both black and white and color. The pictures she produced for her photobook projects—portraits, architectural and landscape view—are subtle and rigorous. Working with deliberate slowness, Hofer sought to convey the essence of her subjects and the unique character and personality of these urban capitals during a period of social, structural, and economic transformation following World War II.

To learn more about street photography and Evelyn Hofer, browse the Spencer Art Reference Library’s research guide.

Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City is co-organized by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. In Kansas City, generous support has been provided by the Hall Family Foundation, Paul DeBruce and Linda Woodsmall-DeBruce, Bill and Sara Morgan, Shirley Bush Helzberg, Evelyn Craft Belger and Richard Belger, Nancy and Rick Green, Neil Karbank and Gretchen Calhoun, the Atterbury Family Foundation, and SpecChem.

PROGRAMS

The Curator is IN!

• Thursday, October 12 | 6–7 p.m.
• $8 public | $5 member
• Gallery L13

Join Senior Curator of Photography April Watson to explore Evelyn Hofer’s photographs of urban capitals across Europe and America during a period extraordinary transformation following World War II. This casual, conversational gallery talk focuses on the featured exhibition Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City.
Register

The Art of Evelyn Hofer

• Friday, January 12 | 12–1 p.m.
• $6 Public | $3 Members
• Presented virtually via Zoom

Join exhibition curators April Watson (Nelson-Atkins), and Gregory J. Harris (High Museum of Art, Atlanta) for a conversation about the life and work of Evelyn Hofer with photographer Andreas Pauly, Hofer’s longtime assistant and head of her estate.
Register

Imagining the City: A Community Conversation

• Thursday, January 25 | 6–7 p.m.
• $8 Public | $5 Members
• Gallery L13

Consider different experiences of and aspirations for our urban environments through insights on the exhibition Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City from community members across diverse sectors. This conversation features architect Dominique Davidson, poet and storyteller José Faus, photographer Joe Johnson, and photographer Elise Kirk.

Register

Image Captions

HEADER | Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Phoenix Park on a Sunday, Dublin, 1966. Dye transfer print, 13 5/16 × 16 7/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2019.39.14. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Harlem Church, New York, 1964. Dye transfer print, 16 5/8 × 13 5/16 inches. The Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2016.75.109. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

SLIDER | Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). The Quays, Dublin, 1966. Dye transfer print, 13 × 17 inches. The High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Gift of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser in honor of Brett Abbott, 2016.434. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Springtime, Washington DC, 1965. Dye transfer print, 16 3/4 × 13 3/8 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2020.7.67. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Queensboro Bridge, New York, 1964. Dye transfer print, 16 5/8 × 13 5/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2019.39.10. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Phoenix Park on a Sunday, Dublin, 1966. Dye transfer print, 13 5/16 × 16 7/16 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2019.39.14. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Harlem Church, New York, 1964. Dye transfer print, 16 5/8 × 13 5/16 inches. The Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of the Hall Family Foundation, 2016.75.109. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer

Evelyn Hofer, American, born Germany (1922–2009). Arteries, New York, 1964. Dye transfer print, 13 3/16 x 17 inches. The High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Gift of the artist’s estate and Danziger Gallery, New York, 2021.100. ©Estate of Evelyn Hofer