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Mask, Ivory Coast
Photograph
1935 (photographed)
1935 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Photograph of a carved African mask from an exhibition entitled 'African Negro Art' at the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mask, Ivory Coast (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | gelatin silver print |
| Brief description | Photograph by Walker Evans, 'Mask, Ivory Coast', 1935, gelatin silver print |
| Physical description | Photograph of a carved African mask from an exhibition entitled 'African Negro Art' at the Museum of Modern Art, New York |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Limited edition |
| Gallery label | Photography Centre 2018-20:
Walker Evans (1903–75)
Photographs of African masks, from an exhibition entitled African Negro Art at the Museum of Modern Art, New York
1935
In 1935, the Museum of Modern Art commissioned Evans to photograph objects in its major exhibition, African Negro Art. Using his 8×10 inch view camera, he sought to highlight the artistry and detail of the objects, alternating between front, side and rear views. In total, Evans produced 477 images, and 17 complete sets were printed. Several of these sets were donated to colleges and libraries in America, and the V&A bought one set in 1936 to better represent African art in its collection.
The term ‘negro’ is repeated here in its original historical context.
Gelatin silver prints
Museum nos. 2020, 2046, 2091 & 2411-1936
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| Object history | NB: The term "negro" was used historically to describe people of black 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. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2091-1936 |
About this object record
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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