Discover the world of Steve McCurry at the Maillol Museum from December 9, 2021, to May 29, 2022, in Paris.
Composed of iconic photographs and new unpublished works, McCurry’s images are known for their humanity, dignity, compassion, elegance, and proportion.
Taken in 1984, the photo later featured on a world-famous cover of National Geographic magazine.
The photograph of Sharbat Gula, a young Afghan refugee with piercing green eyes has become one of the most distinctive in photographic history.
The haunting image, taken at a refugee camp in Pakistan, shows a young woman with piercing green eyes looking intensely at McCurry’s camera.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the subject of the photo, 49-year-old Sharbat Gula, had been granted asylum in Italy following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.
It was June 1993, when a young photographer by the name of Steve McCurry was assigned to capture the images of the monsoon in Indian railways.
As he trudged through waters that reached his neck, one year later National Geographic reached out to the American photojournalist who was known to have received many awards for his willing ability and talent to capture the essence of life in one shot.
With this being said McCurry took up the opportunity to capture the increasing population of the refugee camps along the Afghan Pakistan borders. It was here where he captured one of the most recognised faces in photographic history, 1984 – The Afghan Girl.
Nestled in a classroom amongst a few other children was a young girl who caught his attention. Her emerald-green eyes shone so brightly he couldn’t resist trying to capture her portrait.
However, the then 12-year old was terrifically shy. The fear in her eyes was captured in a timely halt.
The young child walked out of the classroom and wasn’t seen for the next 17 years. The powerful photograph has since then has made a powerful statement.
He is now recognized as one of the greatest names in contemporary photography for his sense of colour and light.
Featuring dozens of photographs taken throughout his career, this exhibition is the most comprehensive retrospective dedicated to this American photographer.
SEE MORE: Most Memorable Art In History | Top Paintings That Changed The World