Alfred Eisenstdaedt: “The important thing is not the camera but the eye”

2026-11-20 - 2027-02-07

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, November 27, 2026  5 – 7 PM

In 2027, Monroe Gallery of Photograph celebrates its 25th anniversary in Santa Fe. A foundation of Monroe Gallery was meeting “Eisie”, as he preferred to be called, in New York City in the mid 1980’s. Our relationship with Eisenstaedt inspired our commitment to supporting and preserving the work of photojournalists with the creation of Monroe Gallery.

Renowned as the father of modern photojournalism, Alfred Eisenstaedt’s career as a preeminent photojournalist spanned eight decades. He taught himself photography and from 1929 to 1935 he was a full-time photojournalist for the Pacific and Atlantic Picture Agency, later part of the Associated Press, and contributed to the Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung and other picture magazines in Berlin and Paris. He photographed throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East until he came to LIFE magazine in 1936. As one of four original staff photographers for LIFE, Eisie then covered over 2,500 assignments and created 92 covers for the magazine.  Eisie worked almost ceaselessly until his death in August, 1995 at the age of 96. . Eisie received awards and recognition far too numerous to list. His photographs have been exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries throughout the world and are in the permanent collections of many important art institutions.