Hollywood became the capital of the movie business in the 1920s. Esquire was founded shortly after, in 1933. The two institutions grew up together—but a continent apart. That distance provides valuable perspective. Over the decades, Esquire has both championed and lampooned Hollywood. And in the process, the magazine has snapped thousands of images of actors and directors.

The goal is always to produce an iconic picture. But that’s not all. Through its lens, Esquire seeks to capture something honest about the most famous people in the world. The photographs in this exhibition are more than a collection of high-wattage celebrities. If you look closely, you’ll see truth.