John Albok (1894–1982) was a tailor by profession and an artist by passion. He emigrated from his native Hungary to New York City in 1921 and immediately became an American citizen. By day, he made fine dresses and suits from his Upper East Side tailor shop. In his free time he photographed the activities of his neighborhood and other areas of the city.

Albok’s hardships in Hungary, where his father and a sister died of starvation during World War I, led him to focus on the more positive aspects of life. He did not ignore signs of the Great Depression or World War II, but he gained far more satisfaction in conveying the beauty of Central Park. His greatest achievements, though, were his empathetic depictions of his neighborhood’s street life, especially its children. While most documentary photographers working in the mid-20th century approached their subjects as outsiders, Albok photographed from the perspective of an insider. He brought to his work an eye for composition and the gift of getting his subjects to accept the camera’s presence, even at close range. At their best, his photographs blend the relaxed ease of snapshot photography with an engaging documentary style. They make one feel like a member of the community.

This exhibition of 25 rare vintage photographs by the artist, generously donated to the Carter by his daughter, joins Albok on his walks around his neighborhood, mainly during the years of 1932 to 1945.