W. Eugene Smith (1918-1978), born in Wichita, Kansas, developed an interest in photography as early as fourteen years old and began photographing for local newspapers at the age of seventeen. Despite a photography scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, he chose to leave after a year to move to New York, where he joined Newsweek and freelanced for prominent publications such as LIFE, Collier's, Harper's Bazaar, and The New York Times. During World War II, Smith served as a war correspondent in the Pacific and was severely wounded in Okinawa in 1945. After a two-year recovery, he returned to LIFE and created several of his most distinguished photo essays, including "Country Doctor," "Spanish Village," and "A Man of Mercy." In 1955, he joined the photo agency Magnum Photos and began an extensive study of Pittsburgh. For this work, he was awarded Guggenheim Fellowships in 1956 and 1957.

As a war correspondent during World War II, W. Eugene Smith aimed not only to document events but also to reveal the tragedies of war and awaken the conscience of the observer. W. Eugene Smith's work, known for incorporating social awareness and empathy, combined with innovation, integrity, and technical mastery, has set the standard for photojournalism for a long time. After his death, the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund was established to support photographers working in the tradition he created. His works are today exhibited in several prominent art museums around the world, such as The Art Institute of Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and Tel Aviv Museum of Art, among others.