Physical description

Photograph of a wooden equestrian figure seen in profile, from an exhibition of African art

Place of Origin

New York (photographed)

Date

1935 (photographed)

Artist/maker

Evans, Walker, born 1903 - died 1975 (photographer)

Materials and Techniques

Photograph

Marks and inscriptions

X.202 / NEW YORK: Museum of Modern Art. / Exhibition of African Negro Art, 1935. / [Photo. No. 172]
Label on mount

172 Equestrian figure (Catalog no. 239) / Dahomey. Yoruba / Polychrome wood, 15 3/4 inches high / Collection Louis Carré, Paris / Represents "Schango", god of thunder.
Label on mount

Dimensions

Height: 237 mm photograph, Width: 176 mm photograph

Object history note

NB: The term "negro" was used historically to describe people of black (sub-Saharan) African heritage but, since the 1960s, has fallen from usage and, increasingly, is considered offensive. The term is repeated here in its original historical context.

The Museum of Modern Art, New York, commissioned Walker Evans to photograph its African Negro Art exhibition of 1935. He produced 477 images and 17 sets of these images were printed, one of which the V&A bought for $50.

Descriptive line

Photograph by Walker Evans depicting a polychrome equestrian figure by the Yoruba people of Dahomey (modern day Benin) in an exhibition entitled 'African Negro Art'. New York, 1935.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

AFRICAN NEGRO ART

Photographs by Walker Evans

List of Photographs

The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1935
African Negro Art Edited by James Johnson Sweeney, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1935

Techniques

Photography

Subjects depicted

Riding; Equestrian; Sculpture; Yoruba; Figures

Categories

Africa; Photographs

Collection

Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection