Chim: Between Devastation and Resurrection

Chim: Between Devastation and Resurrection shines a light on oft-overlooked details about the aftermath of World War II on civilians throughout Europe. This exhibition by preeminent 20th-century photojournalist David Seymour, also known as Chim, (born Dawid Szymin, 1911-1956), thoughtfully presents the reconstruction of post-war Europe, workers’ rights efforts, resistance, and above all, survival.

Though framed by the desturction and devastation of war, Chim focuses primarily on ordinary people and the intimacy of their daily lives, providing an overview of the aftermath of World War II in major European nations. Several of these photos are among the most iconic and recognizable of the era.

Chim: From Destruction to Resurrection is excerpted from We Went Back: Photographs from Europe 1933-1956 by Chim, organized by the International Center of Photography and made possible by the John and Anna Maria Phillips Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts.