A unique, new exhibit just opened at the MET Howard Gillman Gallery, that exposes 150 studio portraits from the mid 20th century. `African American Portraits: Photographs from the 1940s and 1950s’ gives the public a view of rarely seen images that depict a large slice of the African American experience in the US during World War 2, and the following decade – a time of war, middle-class growth, and seismic cultural exchange.

Jeff L.Rosenheim, Joyce Frank Menscher Curator in Charge of the Department of Photography of the MET, conducted a guided `walk-through’ of the exhibit, exclusively for media guests, the day before the exhibit opened. “These photos, taken in the 1940s and 50s was a time of great change,” said Mr. Rosenheim. “It was a big time for production across the country. It was an interesting time after the war.” Mr. Rosenheim, who also curated the Civil War Photo Exhibition at the MET previously, revealed that the real focus and inspiration behind this new exhibition is Frederick Douglass, the great author, advocate, and leader of the Civil Rights Movement. His image is prominently featured at the beginning of the exhibit. Douglass, who was the most photographed African American at that time, wrote specifically saying that the camera capturing African Americans after slavery was a key element of our history. Displayed alongside the Frederick Douglass portrait, is an image of another history-making African-American Sojourner Truth, who was also an advocate of having photographs taken at that time. It is said that she actually LOVED to pose for photographs and paintings.

Apart from those two notables, you really don’t know who the other subjects or the photographers are in the exhibition. Mr. Rosenheim emphasized; “In the mid 20th century, now 100 years ago, it allowed for people going off to war, to come into a studio to have their photographs taken…People realized that they may not return from the war, so it was important to have these images done. These were done to share with families and friends, and, for keepsakes. There were no negatives, nor enlargements done during that time. Another reason that all of the images displayed are so small.”

The complete exhibition features all black and white images. Miniscule in size, “African Americans Portraits: Photographs from the 1940s and 1950s” showcase families, youths, couples and handsome young men in zoot suits. Mr. Rosenheim explained that a feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood prevailed. Also, these studio shots featured painted backdrops, which was typical for photographs of that era. These images were captured before color was introduced and became popular. Hand-painted red lips on one portrait were evident.

Mr. Rosenheim said that the exhibition showed about half of what the museum has of this type. “One of the museum’s aims is to collect and preserve our photographic history,” concluded the curator. This exhibition will run through October 8, 2018, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Visit metmuseum.org for more information.