Burt Glinn: Half a Century as a Magnum Photographer
Highlighting Burt Glinn’s extraordinary versatility and talent for picturing the most iconic and everyday scenes of the second half of the 20th century, this is the first monograph covering the breadth of Glinn’s storied career. With rarely seen and acclaimed images, Burt Glinn. Half a Century as a Magnum Photographer celebrates the compelling, elegant, and always expressive ways Glinn experienced the world through photography. Along with Eve Arnold and Dennis Stock, he was among the first Americans to join Magnum Photos, when he became an associate member in 1951. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Glinn served in the U.S. Army, attended Harvard, and worked for Life magazine before joining Magnum. Documenting conflict, leisure, medicine, and more, Burt Glinnreceived many awards for his editorial and corporate photography.
About the Author
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Burt Glinn (1925–2008) commenced his professional journey by serving in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. Following this, he pursued literature at Harvard University, where he engaged in editing and photography for the Harvard Crimson college newspaper. Transitioning to the world of journalism, Glinn worked for LIFE magazine from 1949 to 1950 before embarking on a freelance career.
In 1951, Glinn became an associate member of Magnum, a pioneering move that saw him join the ranks alongside Eve Arnold and Dennis Stock, marking them as the first Americans to be part of the burgeoning photo agency. His elevation to a full member occurred in 1954. Glinn distinguished himself through vibrant color series capturing the essence of the South Seas, Japan, Russia, Mexico, and California. Notably, he was honored with the Mathew Brady Award for Magazine Photographer of the Year from the University of Missouri in 1959.
Teaming up with writer Laurens van der Post, Glinn co-authored notable works such as “A Portrait of All the Russias” and “A Portrait of Japan.” His impactful reportages found a home in publications like Esquire, Geo, Travel and Leisure, Fortune, Life, and Paris-Match. Glinn’s lens covered significant events such as the Sinai War, the US Marine invasion of Lebanon, and Fidel Castro’s rise to power in Cuba. In the 1990s, he delved into an extensive photo essay centered around the field of medical science.
Known for his versatility and technical prowess, Glinn also established himself as one of Magnum’s distinguished corporate and advertising photographers. His contributions were acknowledged with numerous awards, including the Best Book of Photographic Reporting from Abroad by the Overseas Press Club and the Best Print Ad of the Year by the Art Directors Club of New York. Glinn’s leadership extended to his role as president of the American Society of Media Photographers, and he served as president of Magnum from 1972 to 1975, later re-elected to the position in 1987.
