Sol Libsohn
Sol Libsohn (February 5, 1914 – January 21, 2001) was an American self-taught, documentary photographer.
Sol Libsohn

Sol Libsohn · [James Brooks], 1940 Aug. 21 / Sol Libsohn, photographer. Photographic print: 1 item: b w · Public domain
- Born
- 1914 · New York City.
- Died
- 2001 · Princeton.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- photographer
- Education
- City University of New York
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Sol Libsohn (February 5, 1914 – January 21, 2001) was an American self-taught, documentary photographer.
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wikidata · Q3489087 · wikipedia · Sol Libsohn
In this article
Biography
Biography
Sol Libsohn studied at City University of New York. Employment is recorded with Princeton University. Work by Sol Libsohn is recorded in the collections of Art Institute of Chicago, National Gallery of Canada, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Harry Ransom Center and Photography Collection.
After graduating from City College of New York, he joined the Film and Photo League where he earned his living documenting paintings. In 1936, he co-founded the Photo League in New York City with Sid Grossman. Libsohn was an important teacher at the league as well as a member and leader of numerous production groups. In addition to freelance work for numerous magazines, he also was employed by Roy Stryker for the documentary project of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (later Exxon), the Federal Art Project, and Princeton University, where he taught art and photography to disadvantaged youth in the Summer Program. Libsohn was a personal acquaintance of Romana Javitz, head of the New York Public Library's Picture Collection from 1929 to 1968, who sought out his work for the library.
Death
Death
Libsohn died on January 21, 2001, in Princeton, New Jersey.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
• The Family of Man, January 24 – May 8, 1955, Museum of Modern Art, New York City • Image of Freedom, October 29, 1941 – February 1, 1942, Museum of Modern Art, New York City
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1914
Sol Libsohn born at New York City.
2001
Sol Libsohn died at Princeton.
Places
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Places
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New York City.
Birth place
Princeton.
Death place
Collections
• Harvard Art Museums • International Center for Photography • Museum of Modern Art • New York Public Library

Philip Guston working on a mural with a group of children looking on. Identification on verso (handwritten and stamped): Negative No.: 5077-3;
Sol Libsohn · [Philip Guston], 1940 Aug. 21 / Sol Libsohn, photographer. Photographic print: 1 item: b w

Photograph of James Brooks at work on a mural. Identification on verso (handwritten and stamped): New York City W.P.A. Art Project; Photography Division; 110 King Street Neg. No. 5078-1; Photog. Libsohn;
Sol Libsohn · [James Brooks], 1940 Aug. 21 / Sol Libsohn, photographer. Photographic print: 1 item: b w
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Nasar, Sylvia. Sol Libsohn, 86, Photographer Who Captured Ordinary Life. The New York Times. 2001-01-25.
- 2."Sol Libsohn Bio at the Jewish Museum". Jewish Museum.
- 3.New York Public Library. NYPL, Where Do We Go from Here.
- 4.New York Public Library. Encore – Libsohn, Sol, 1914.
- 5.Harvard Art Museums. Sol Libsohn.
- 6.International Center of Photography. Sol Libsohn. 2016-03-02.
- 7.Museum of Modern Art. Sol Libsohn.
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Further particulars
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Recognition and collections
Work by Sol Libsohn is
Art Institute of Chicago, National Gallery of Canada, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Harry Ransom Center
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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