Magnum Editions: Wall Street. New York, 1956

Leonard Freed was born into a humble Jewish family of East European descent and grew up in Brooklyn. Originally set on becoming a painter, he attended the New School, where he studied with the legendary art director of Harper’s Bazaar, Alexey Brodovitch. It was in Brodovitch’s “design laboratory” that Freed discovered his true vocation. Speaking of his practice, Freed said: “Ultimately, photography is about who you are. It’s the seeking of truth in relation to yourself. And seeking truth becomes a habit.” Pictured here, the shadowy men of Wall Street stalk New York City. 1956.