Eye to Eye: Photographs by Vivian Maier

Since her death in 2009, Vivian Maier has become internationally famous because of her heartbreaking story and brilliant photography. Virtually invisible to others, she died alone and in poverty but left a wealth of photographs—more than 100,000 images. For over a half-century Maier wandered the streets of New York and Chicago and journeyed through Asia and elsewhere making incredible photographs. Few knew of Maier's pursuit during her lifetime, and her great talent went unrecognized. But since the body of her life's work—a treasure trove of prints and negatives—was rescued from a storage locker and thrift shop, she has been acknowledged as a great artist. To date, three excellent collections of Maier's photographs have been published (Vivian Maier: Out of the Shadows; Vivian Maier: Street Photographer; and Vivian Maier: Self-Portraits). In this title, Cahan and Williams, authors of Out of the Shadows, have again followed a thematic approach, this time gathering informal portraits in which Maier has caught the eye of at least one person in the frame. While these photographs may not rise to the artistry and unbelievable originality of Maier's street images and self-portraits, they do offer touching glimpses into the lives of those portrayed and a quiet sense of humanity. The authors contribute a short, insightful introduction but otherwise allow the artwork to speak for itself.