Edward Steichen; Carl Sandburg/ - The Family of Man/women/children - 1955-1955

The Family of Man is an exhibition of photography, assembled in 1955 by Edward Steichen for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which is called 'the greatest photographic exhibition ever.' In the 1950s and 1960s, it attracted more than nine million visitors. Since 1964, the exhibition has been located in Clervaux (Luxembourg).

In 1964, at the end of her world tour, the collection was given by the American government to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. During a visit in 1966, Steichen stated that 'the most important work of his life' should have its definitive place in the Château de Clervaux.[1]

The exhibition consists of 503 photographs selected by Steichen himself from a total of 2 million. Works by 273 photographers from 68 countries are on display, including pieces by the Belgian photographer Charles Leirens, the Dutch Emmy Andriesse, Éva Besnyő, Ed van der Elsken, Henk Jonker, Cas Oorthuys, Nico Jesse, and the Swiss-French Sabine Weiss. The arrangement in which the photos are exhibited was designed under Steichen's supervision and was the same at every location of the world tour. The photographs are part of the space: they vary in size, reference each other, are placed on the ground, and hang from the ceiling. In 37 themes, Steichen aims to showcase aspects of human life, such as the experiences occurring on earth between the extremes of birth and death.

Steichen wants to explain humanity to the individual person. As he himself says: 'I am no longer concerned with photography as an art form. I believe it is potentially the best medium for explaining man to himself and his fellow man.' We all are part of the great family of mankind.

In 2003, The Family of Man was placed on UNESCO's Memory of the World list.

The Family of Woman (1970) and The Family of Children (1977) are spin-offs based on the same concept, with different curators.