New York City W 1

© Aaron Siskind/Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

New York City W 1

On view

Modern and Contemporary Art
Theodora Walton William Walton III Pavilion
Peter B. Lewis Gallery

New York City W 1,

1947–48

Aaron Siskind, 1903–1991; born New York, NY; died Providence, RI; active New York, Chicago, and Providence
x1978-43
Siskind engaged with the characteristics of Abstract Expressionist painting—such as expressive gesture and the integration of elements of chance—through black-and-white photography. Using close-up views and unexpected cropping, his photographs defamiliarize their subject matter, transforming elements of the three-dimensional world—including the textures and surfaces of urban environments and natural landscapes—into striking abstract compositions.

Information

Title
New York City W 1
Dates

1947–48

Maker
Aaron Siskind
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 34.3 × 25.2 cm (13 1/2 × 9 15/16 in.) sheet: 35.5 × 27.9 cm (14 × 11 in.) mat: 50.8 × 40.6 cm (20 × 16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Robert Menschel
Object Number
x1978-43
Place Made

North America, United States, New York, New York

Inscription
In graphite, verso: N.Y.C. / W1 '47 ["or 8" following '47 crossed out] 1 V- / 4//57 / Aaron Siskind
Culture
American
Type
black-and-white photographs, photographs, gelatin silver prints
Techniques
gelatin silver process
Subject
glass, windows

The artist. Acquired by Robert Menschel, New York, NY, after 1946; given to the Princeton University Art Museum, 1978.

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