Born in Paris in 1928 to Russian parents, Elliott Erwitt grew up in Milan before emigrating to the US. As a teenager in Hollywood, he developed an interest in photography while working in a darkroom. In 1948, he moved to New York, exchanging janitorial work for film classes at the New School. By 1953, he had joined Magnum Photos, freelancing for major magazines like LIFE and Holiday. Known for his benevolent irony and humanistic sensibility, Erwitt has created significant work across the US, Cuba, Europe, and beyond.