INTRODUCTION

In the 1930s, when P.H. Polk focused the lens of his eight by ten Century view camera to fashion an elegant portrait of beautiful Abigail Kyzer or to capture the stoicism of itinerant farmer George Moore, he could not have known he was defining a significant moment in photographic history. Nor could he have anticipated, during World War II, how his image of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt--smiling confidently from the rear seat of a plane with Tuskegee Airman Charles Alfred Anderson at the controls--would serve as a catalyst for the racial integration of the armed forces He was simply, in his own words, "making pictures."

Now, on the occasion of the centennial of this American photographer's birth, the time is right to reflect on Polk's contributions and provide a context for understanding the importance of his life's work.Those who have encountered his photographs share a common bond of respect and appreciation for his devotion to creating a lasting visual record of African Americans; both the celebrated and the average. He took pictures of those elevated by the benefit of education as well as those downtrodden by acute conditions of poverty. The confluence of P.H. Polk's artistic sensibilities and technical prowess, combined with his humanist's vision and strong belief in the basic decency of all people, regardless of their social class, gives his images their universal character.

The University Gallery of the University of Delaware is pleased to present
Through These Eyes: The Photographs of P.H. Polk. His are enduring images of pride, accomplishment, perseverance, humility and dignity. By looking through Polk's eyes we see ourselves reflected as a people and a country. We are encouraged to know that viewers new to P.H. Polk's photographs will now have the joy and challenge of discovering themselves in his work.

If you are interested in obtaining the illustrated catalogue of this show click here.