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Photos: Looking at LIFE

As Life magazine gets set to relaunch October 1, New York's International Center of Photography hosts a retrospective of the magazine's most iconic prints.

September 16, 2004
Life magazine debuted in 1936, and for more than three decades, it was the premier visual chronicler of American life and culture. On the cusp of the photomag's relaunch on October 1, New York's International Center of Photography is featuring Looking at LIFE, an exhibit of signature prints from the magazine's original run. Opening tomorrow and running through November 28, the exhibit traces the history of the magazine through its coverage of war, social issues, celebrities, politics, and ordinary citizens at home and abroad. There are more than 200 photos on display at ICP; here are three from that group.


Paul Schutzer, Crowd for "I have a dream" speech by Martin Luther King
Published August 28, 1963



Margaret Bourke-White, Gold Miners in Johannesburg, South Africa
Published September 18, 1950



Leonard McCombe, Kim Novak in dining car of New York bound train
Published March 5, 1956

The International Center of Photography is located at Sixth Avenue and 43rd Street in midtown Manhattan. Photographs courtesy Time Inc. and copyright © Leonard McCombe, 1956; Time Inc., 1963; and Time Inc., 1950. Learn how to pitch Life magazine, here.
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