Jacob Riis - The Other Half

Jacob Riis - The Other Half
16.02.2018 - 15.04.2018

Foam is proud to present the first exhibition of Danish-American photographer Jacob Riis in the Netherlands.

In 1870, the Danish immigrant Jacob Riis (1849-1914) arrived in New York City, aged twenty-one and penniless. This background stimulated his concern for the poor living conditions of inhabitants of the city’s Lower East Side. In time, his concern propelled him to become an important journalist and social reformer. In addition, he is now viewed as one of the founders of documentary photography.

The Other Half – The Activist Photography of Jacob Riis comprises vintage photographs by Riis and his contemporaries, prints from 1946 and more recent prints from 1994. Visitors can also see and listen to a reconstruction of one of his lectures. The exhibition includes a magic lantern as used by Riis during his lectures, and a number of personal belongings such as his notebook.

The Other Half - The Activist Photography of Jacob Riis was developed in collaboration with the Museum of the City of New York.