| Security, Privilege and Freedom |
| A Transatlantic Crossing on RMS Queen Elizabeth |
|
| After serving as a troop ship in World War Two, transporting some 750,000 soldiers to and from the conflict in Europe, the ocean liner nicknamed "Grey Ghost" made her public debut in 1946, sailing from Southampton, England, to New York City. With her "ocean liner deco" interior, unique to the great liners of the 30's and 40's, the Queen Elizabeth radiated a luxurious ambiance for ocean travelers in the postwar years. With her sister Cunarder, Queen Mary, she would provide a world-class transatlantic crossing schedule in an era when ocean liners were "the only way to cross." In the summer of 1960, Magnum photographer Erich Hartmann photographed the Queen Elizabeth and her passengers and crew on one such crossing. The 25 evocative black-and-white images that comprise this exhibition illustrate the security, privilege and freedom that existed onboard this great ocean liner after years of war. This exhibition is part of Magnum in May, a photographic and cultural event in five museums and 15 galleries throughout New York City. Since its creation in 1947, Magnum photographers have seen the world through the objective lens of the camera as well as the subjective filter of the "concerned" photographer, bringing history to life and alerting the world to events it could not have otherwise seen. |