Barcelona, February 25, 2026 – The KBr Fundación Mapfre in Barcelona is currently presenting a comprehensive exhibition titled ‘Walker Evans. Now and Then,’ dedicated to the influential American photographer Walker Evans (1903-1975). The exhibition, which opened yesterday, February 24, and runs until May 24, features 231 works that encapsulate Evans’ unique approach to documenting everyday life and the socio-economic realities of his time.
A Chronicle of the Great Depression and American Life
Walker Evans is widely recognized for his poignant photographic narratives, particularly those capturing the plight of sharecropper families in the American South during the Great Depression. These iconic images, depicting the impoverished and resilient, are central to the exhibition, drawing parallels to the literary works of authors like Carson McCullers.
David Campany, creative director of the International Center of Photography in New York and curator of ‘Walker Evans. Now and Then,’ emphasizes Evans’ enduring contemporary relevance. “Fifty years after his death, Walker Evans remains a contemporary photographer who leaves a mark on other artists,” Campany stated. The exhibition delves into Evans’ diverse interests, including 19th-century architecture, anonymous individuals, urban landscapes, advertising, and the automotive boom.
From Aspiring Writer to Master Photographer
Initially drawn to literature and influenced by figures like Charles Baudelaire and James Joyce, Evans pursued writing in Paris during the 1920s. However, he soon discovered photography as an equally powerful medium for chronicling daily life. His literary background also enabled him to write accompanying texts for his photographic essays, a rare feat at the time, particularly during his two-decade tenure at Fortune magazine starting in 1945.
During his time at Fortune, Evans produced photographic essays with minimal intervention, handling the photography, editing, and writing himself. This autonomy allowed him to explore themes close to his heart: ordinary people, the unemployed, everyday objects, small businesses, popular signage, and forgotten architecture. Unlike many of his contemporaries who would discard or crop out these elements, Evans considered them fundamental to his work.
A Legacy of Documentary Realism
The exhibition is organized into twelve thematic sections, providing a comprehensive overview of Evans’ long and varied career. These sections serve as a guiding thread to understand his images, which are characterized by an unadorned, documentary realism that also invites reflection. His work has significantly shaped the visual memory of a pivotal period in American history.
Notably, Evans was the first photographer to be honored with a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in 1938, titled ‘American Photographs.’ The current exhibition in Barcelona features photographs that document the struggles of those affected by the 1929 crash, street scenes from medium-sized cities in Mississippi and Pennsylvania, the architecture of major urban centers, the burgeoning advertising landscape, New York subway passengers, and objects of modern life. His keen eye also captured the automotive boom of the 1960s and its consequences, such as junkyards. Additionally, Evans documented Havana in the 1930s for Carleton Beals’ book The Crime of Cuba.
Influence and Lasting Impact
Although his importance was not fully recognized during his lifetime, Walker Evans’ influence has grown steadily as his work has been revisited. Rooted in the documentary style, he combined a direct and austere gaze with an insatiable curiosity for his surroundings. His enduring philosophy, “Stare. It’s the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long,” continues to resonate.
Evans’ images have profoundly influenced generations of photographers, including Helen Levitt, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, and Lee Friedlander, all of whom have achieved significant recognition in their own right. The ‘Walker Evans. Now and Then’ exhibition at KBr Fundación Mapfre offers a unique opportunity to engage with the timeless work of a photographic master who redefined the art of documentary photography.
