The descendant of a Jewish family, John Gutmann arrived in San Franscisco on January 1st 1934, where he became fascinated by the dynamism and uninhibited nature of North American society. He began to tirelessly photograph the city and its surroundings.

His images convey an extraordinary sensibility toward popular culture, as can be seen in the photograph of this swimmer, which is imbued with a gentle sensuality, akin to his portrayals of dancers, singers, trapeze artists, and parade goers.