Fine Art Friday | Gottlieb Jazz Photos
William Gottlieb was a self-taught photographer who focused his camera lens onto the musical scene known as the “Golden Age of American Jazz” during 1938-1948 in New York and Washington D.C. During this time, he captured some of the finest Jazz artists of the time, including luminaries such as Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Lead Bell, Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and many, many more.
It was Gottlieb’s wishes that his portfolio be entered into the public domain on February 16, 2010. The Library of Congress now shares over 1000 of Gottlieb’s collection on a Flickr portfolio. In addition to the collection on Flickr, the LOC has provided interviews with Gottlieb, titled In His Own Words, which are available on the LOC website.
Jazz, highly documented as America’s Music, is expertly captured in the Gottlieb collection, showcasing a sense of intimacy with each portrait. In addition to the connections made between photographer and subject, one gets the sense of collaboration and esteem held between these artists among each other. And there is also a clear sense of their passion for their their craft. This collection is a national treasure that showcases a historical era in music and in America.
