Lee Friedlander & Garry Winogrand in: Street Photography

The exhibition in the new Photography Rooms at the Museum Ludwig explores the rich tradition of street photography through the work of three key figures: Garry Winogrand, Lee Friedlander, and Joseph Rodríguez. Since the 19th century, photography and urban life have been closely intertwined, with the genre gaining momentum in the mid-20th century thanks to compact cameras like the Leica, which allowed photographers to capture candid, fleeting moments in public space. Influenced by Henri Cartier-Bresson’s idea of the “decisive moment,” street photographers embraced spontaneity and informality, breaking from the conventions of staged photography. Winogrand and Friedlander, whose careers were launched by the landmark 1967 New Documents exhibition at MoMA, developed distinctive, self-reflective styles that challenged traditional composition and created a sense of emotional distance. In contrast, Rodríguez’s work, particularly his Taxi series, is rooted in storytelling and social documentary, using unexpected perspectives and reflections to highlight the lives of marginalized individuals. Featuring around 60 photographs from the 1960s to the 1980s—many drawn from recent acquisitions and donations—this exhibition presents diverse approaches to a shared subject, offering a compelling look at how three generations of photographers have shaped the language of street photography.