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Road-Trip through Europe
Road-Trip through Europe
Joel Meyerowitz
June 13, 2024
Paris, 1967 © Joel Meyerowitz
Joel Meyerowitz (b. 1938) ranks among the most important photographers of his generation, who redefined how reality can be captured and conveyed with a camera. He was also one of the early proponents of colour photography as a way to illustrate the chaos and proximity of street life. The Museo Picasso Málaga now dedicates a comprehensive showcase to the artist’s seminal European road-trip of 1966/67. More than 150 images will be on display, many of which have never been exhibited before.
In 1966, not long after leaving his advertising job in New York to pursue photography, 28-year-old Joel Meyerowitz embarked on a year-long exploration of Europe – driving 20,000 miles through 10 countries, and recording 25,000 photographs. During this time, he settled in Málaga for six months, where he befriended the Escalonas, one of the city’s most prominent Flamenco families. This yielded some 8,500 images, and hours of high-quality sound recordings of live flamenco performances. The unique experience, which gave rise to an extraordinary photographic portrait of Spain at the height of the Francoist dictatorship, was hugely influential for Meyerowitz, and had a long-lasting impact on his signature style. His return to New York was followed by his first ever solo exhibition at the MoMA in 1968, featuring 40 photographs taken in Europe from the window of his moving car.
The comprehensive showcase at the Museo Picasso Málaga encompasses vintage and large-format prints in both colour and black-and-white. The result is an in-depth visual account of Meyerowitz’s travels through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, as well as Turkey, France, Spain, Germany, Greece and Italy – with a core focus on the time he spent in Málaga.
Katrin UllmannIn 1966, not long after leaving his advertising job in New York to pursue photography, 28-year-old Joel Meyerowitz embarked on a year-long exploration of Europe – driving 20,000 miles through 10 countries, and recording 25,000 photographs. During this time, he settled in Málaga for six months, where he befriended the Escalonas, one of the city’s most prominent Flamenco families. This yielded some 8,500 images, and hours of high-quality sound recordings of live flamenco performances. The unique experience, which gave rise to an extraordinary photographic portrait of Spain at the height of the Francoist dictatorship, was hugely influential for Meyerowitz, and had a long-lasting impact on his signature style. His return to New York was followed by his first ever solo exhibition at the MoMA in 1968, featuring 40 photographs taken in Europe from the window of his moving car.
The comprehensive showcase at the Museo Picasso Málaga encompasses vintage and large-format prints in both colour and black-and-white. The result is an in-depth visual account of Meyerowitz’s travels through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, as well as Turkey, France, Spain, Germany, Greece and Italy – with a core focus on the time he spent in Málaga.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Joel Meyerowitz
Joel Meyerowitz+-
Born on March 6, 1938 in New York City. Initially studied painting before working as an art director. Since the 1960s, he counts among the key representatives of American street and New Color photography. His first Leica was an M2, followed by the M4 and M6. Four-month trip through the USA (1964) and one-year trip through Europe (1966–1967). In 1970, he used his Guggenheim Fellowship for another journey across the United States. Continues to use the M and S systems for street photography, still lifes, portraits and commissioned projects to this day. In 2016, Joel Meyerowitz was honoured with the Leica Hall of Fame Award for his life’s work. He lives and works between New York and London. More
Paris, 1967 © Joel Meyerowitz
Paris, 1967 © Joel Meyerowitz
Malaga, 1966 © Joel Meyerowitz
Malaga, 1967 © Joel Meyerowitz
London, 1966 © Joel Meyerowitz
Wales, 1966 © Joel Meyerowitz