Face of Washington Square

First Edition, 1965. Book measures 7.25 x 10.25 inches. Sumiharu Watanabe was one of the few Japanese photographers to travel to New York in the 1960s. He worked at Nikon USA between 1962 and 1964, and as a newcomer to the city, wandered the streets with his camera, capturing a changing city landscape through fresh eyes. Watanabe masterfully documents Greenwich Village, specifically Washington Square Park, and the people who inhabit the area. His photographs consist of the daily life and street culture of people out and about including people in the park, playing in the fountain, playing music, playing chess, working in storefronts and restaurants, participating in actions and demonstrations, partying, and more. Shots progress from Spring to Winter, giving a naturalistic and lyrical tone to the work. The richly printed B&W photographs are most often full bleed. An essential document of 1960s New York, and a scarce book.