"Saul Leiter's early black and white photographs are as innovative and challenging as his highly regarded early work in color. Breaking with the documentary tradition, Leiter responded to the dynamic street life of New York City with a spontaneity and openness that resulted in vibrant, impressionistic images that have the immediacy of an accomplished artist's sketch. With his unconventional framing and nuanced use of light, shadow and tone, Leiter created images with a lyrical subtlety like no other photographer of his era, and brought the same sensibility to his intimate and frank portrayals of family members and friends. Early Black and White shows the impressive range of Leiter's early photography."--Slipcase.