In 1968, photographer Bill Cunningham embarked on an eight-year project to document the architectural riches and fashion history of New York City. Scouring the city’s thrift stores, auction houses, and street fairs for vintage clothing, and scouting sites on his bicycle, Cunningham generated a photographic essay entitled Facades, which paired models-in particular his muse, fellow photographer Editta Sherman-in period costumes with historic settings.

Although by turns whimsical and bold, Cunningham’s project also was part of the larger cultural zeitgeist in New York City, during an era in which issues surrounding both the preservation and the problems of the urban landscape loomed large. The photographer donated 88 silver gelatin prints from the series to the New-York Historical Society in 1976, and now, almost four decades later, Cunningham’s work will be reconsidered in a show that will highlight the historical perspective the photographs suggest-not just of the distant past, but of the particular time in which they were created.

New-York Historical Society Museum
170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way
New York (NY) 10024 United States
Tel. +1 (212) 8733400
info@nyhistory.org
www.nyhistory.org

Opening hours
Tuesday - Thursday from 10am to 6pm
Friday from 10am to 8pm
Saturday from 10am to 6pm
Sunday from 11am to 5pm

Related images

  1. Bill Cunningham, Grand Central Terminal, New York City, ca. 1968-1976, Gelatin silver photograph, New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
  2. Bill Cunningham, GM Building, New York City, ca. 1968-1976, Gelatin silver photograph. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham
  3. Bill Cunningham, St. Paul’s Chapel, New York City, ca. 1968-1976, Gelatin silver photograph, New-York Historical Society, Gift of Bill Cunningham