Ruth Orkin

Ruth Orkin was an American photographer and filmmaker best known for her iconic photograph, "American Girl in Italy," which captured the spirit of a young American woman traveling alone in Europe.

Orkin was born in Boston and began her career as a nightclub dancer and self-taught photographer. She moved to New York City in the 1940s and became part of the city's vibrant photography scene, working as a freelance photographer for publications such as Life and Look magazines. Orkin's photography focused on capturing the beauty and energy of everyday life, often through candid portraits of people on the street. She was known for her use of natural light and her ability to capture the essence of her subjects, whether they were famous actors or ordinary people going about their day. In 1951, Orkin traveled to Europe with a friend and a camera, and it was during this trip that she took her most famous photograph, "American Girl in Italy." The photograph shows a young American woman walking down a street in Florence, surrounded by a group of Italian men who are staring at her. The image has become an iconic representation of the experience of women traveling alone, and it continues to be celebrated as a feminist and artistic statement.