A Letter from Japan

The Photographs of John Swope

March 5 - June 4, 2006

: John Swope Arai September 6, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; Photographer unknown John Swope and a Japanese Woman on the Day of the Official Surrender September 2, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Near Tokyo, Omori POW Camp c. August 29, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Shinagawa September 2, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Near Tokyo, Omori POW Camp, Allied POWS Greeting Their Liberators August 29, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope with Robert Walton September 6, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Arai September 5, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Hamamatsu September 6, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Hamamatsu September 6, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Arai, Ohmura Family (Satoru, Tetuji, and Kimiko), with Kimiko’s Brother, Noburu Asakura September 7, 1945 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Elsa Maxwell, Tyrone Power, and the Duke of Windsor, Cap D’Antibes, France 1948 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Jimmy Stewart with model airplane 1936 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.; John Swope Cary Grant Filming a Car Scene for Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House, Hollywood 1948 Gelatin silver print. John Swope Collection, © John Swope Trust.

A Letter from Japan: The Photographs of John Swope is the first in-depth presentation of vintage prints from the late Los Angeles photographer’s 1945 journey through post-war Japan. Shot during a three-and-a-half-week period, Swope’s photographs vividly document the impact of World War II on the local population of Japan as well as on the Allied soldiers and prisoners of war. The exhibition presents over 115 vintage prints, which also include selected highlights from his career as a renowned Hollywood photographer from the 1930s through 1970s.

About the Exhibition

The exhibition and accompanying catalogue honor John Swope’s original intention of bringing together his timeless, powerful photographs with the emotional text of a letter he wrote from Japan to his wife, actress Dorothy McGuire. Individual images are juxtaposed with short excerpts in both the exhibition and the catalogue. Published by the Hammer Museum, the catalogue also reprints the entire 144-page letter for the first time.

In addition to the Japanese series, the exhibition presents a selection of Swope’s earlier and subsequent work in photojournalism and portraiture that further reflect his striking ability to encapsulate a range of universal human experiences in photographs. Early on, Swope (1908-1979) became best known for his insider views of Hollywood in which he captured both the glamorous and the mundane sides of life through intimate portraits of celebrities and behind-the scenes views of movie and theatrical productions. He went on to have a successful career as a freelance Life magazine photographer, where he frequently covered similar stories on Hollywood.

Alongside the photographs, A Letter from Japan presents books and magazines, in which Swope’s work was originally published, the photographer’s personal documents and letters, his camera, and other ephemera. The exhibition includes significant loans from the John Swope Trust, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, Craig Krull Gallery, Ben Stiller, and other private collections.

This exhibition is generously supported by Gail and Jerry Oppenheimer with additional support from Mrs. Sidney F. Brody, The Judith Rothschild Foundation, Shirlee Fonda, and Jane Wyatt.