Images of ‘40s, ‘50s Exhibited at Long Beach Museum of Art

Photographs from the archives of Life magazine that chronicle the events following World War II in the years 1946 to 1955 will continue on display through March 16 at the Long Beach Museum of Art.

“Life: The Second Decade 1946-1955” is an exhibition of 200 black-and-white prints, most of which were taken on assignment for the magazine by some of the world’s most distinguished photojournalists. Among the 74 photojournalists represented are Margaret Bourke-White, Ralph Crane, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Philippe Halsman, W. Eugene Smith, David Douglas Duncan, Gordon Parks and Andreas Feininger.

Doris O’Neil, director of Vintage Prints at Time Inc., selected the photographsfor the exhibition from the Life Picture Collection’s 156,000 images of the decade. O’Neil served for 30 years as director of the world’s largest indexed picture collection.

In the exhibition catalogue, O’Neil writes that the photographs “were not chosen as a review of photojournalism, nor as a guide to world events of the period. This is, rather, a selection of some of the most remarkable and compelling images of that time, regardless of subject matter. Since Life was dedicated to covering national and world events, however, many of these pictures do reflect the decade’s history. Another major area of the magazine’s concern--the human condition--is reflected in many more.”

Organized by the International Center of Photography and made possible jointly by Time Inc. and United Technologies Corp., the exhibition will be on view from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at the museum, 2300 E. Ocean Blvd. Admission is free.