Galerie Baudoin Lebon is presenting "Sidewalk," a comprehensive exhibition showcasing the work of Lisette Model, one of the most influential figures in mid-twentieth century photography. Model, who described photography as "the art of the moment," made this philosophy the guiding principle of her artistic vision throughout her distinguished career.

From the 1930s onward, Model established herself as a master of uncompromising portraiture, capturing a diverse range of subjects including women and men, acquaintances and strangers, the wealthy and the marginalized, individuals in isolation and crowds. Her direct, frontal approach to photography produced remarkably realistic portraits that documented the full spectrum of society with unflinching honesty.

In the late 1930s, Model emigrated to New York City, where she began photographing urban life with fresh eyes. She became particularly fascinated by the city's frenetic pace, focusing her lens on passersby and the clientele of jazz clubs. Her work process involved extensive laboratory work, where she would carefully reframe her negatives to eliminate superfluous details and isolate volumes, creating images that were direct, immediate, and filled with both strength and humanity.

Model's photography underwent a significant transformation through her contact with city life. While continuing her portrait work, she began seeking more graphic and visual effects to capture the urban frenzy and the turmoil it created. In her groundbreaking "Running Legs" series, she adopted a revolutionary ground-level viewpoint, positioning her camera at foot level to capture passersby hurrying through the streets during rush hour. These images featured dark silhouettes and legs of men and women crossing streets, walking on pavements, or climbing stairs—anonymous, bodiless, and faceless forms that perfectly recreated the frenetic atmosphere of modern city life.

Her "Reflections" series took a different approach, focusing on images of the city reflected in shop windows to explore themes of consumerism and the desire to consume. From these innovative series emerged Model's characteristic style, featuring unexpected shots that were remarkably modern and uncluttered in their composition.

While Model photographed urban environments extensively, her favorite subject was not the city itself but rather its inhabitants. Even when her subjects lacked clear identity in her images, they remained intrinsically linked to her fascination with urban life and the human condition within metropolitan settings.

The current exhibition presents a comprehensive collection of images spanning Model's career, featuring photographs from both Europe and the United States dating from the 1930s to the 1970s. The exhibition has been organized in collaboration with Avi Keitelman and runs from September 8 through October 2, 2021, at Galerie Baudoin Lebon, located at 21 rue Chapon in Paris's 3rd arrondissement. The opening reception is scheduled for Wednesday, September 8, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.