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Harry Gruyaert's New York in Colour: A Photographic Journey

publication · 2026-05-19

Thames and Hudson has released a new publication titled 'Harry Gruyaert: New York', showcasing over five decades of street photography by the Belgian Magnum photographer. The collection highlights the striking contrasts of New York City, featuring everything from its iconic skylines and neon diners to its diverse neighborhoods and transient street moments. Accompanying the visuals, French filmmaker Cédric Klapisch has penned text that includes fictional snippets, merging fantasy with reality. Born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1941, Gruyaert is celebrated for his pioneering color techniques and his photographic work in places like India, Morocco, and Egypt. The book spans images from 1972 to 2017, encompassing areas such as Manhattan, Madison Avenue, and Queens, with Klapisch praising Gruyaert's talent for transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Key facts

  • Harry Gruyaert is a Belgian photographer and Magnum Photos member.
  • The book 'Harry Gruyaert: New York' is published by Thames and Hudson.
  • Cédric Klapisch, a French film director, wrote the accompanying text.
  • The photographs span from 1972 to 2017.
  • Locations include Manhattan, Madison Avenue, and Queens.
  • Gruyaert is known for his innovative use of colour.
  • Klapisch describes Gruyaert's work as elevating the banal.
  • Gruyaert was born in 1941 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Entities

Artists

  • Harry Gruyaert
  • Cédric Klapisch
  • Stephen Shore
  • Helen Levitt
  • Ernst Haas
  • Saul Leiter
  • Joel Meyerowitz
  • William Eggleston
  • Alex Webb

Institutions

  • Magnum Photos
  • Thames and Hudson

Locations

  • New York City
  • Manhattan
  • Madison Avenue
  • Queens
  • Antwerp
  • Belgium
  • India
  • Morocco
  • Egypt

Sources