Henry Luce, the owner of Time, bought Life in 1936 and transformed it into something sensational—a magazine that communicated news through photographs. During its golden years, the 1930s to the 1970s, Life had six female photographers on staff. This exhibition highlights the singular contributions of this small but illustrious group, starting with Margaret Bourke-White’s cover photo for the inaugural 1936 issue. —J.V.