Main Street, Saratoga Springs, New York
Photograph
1931 (made)
1931 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Evans meticulously framed this view of a rainslicked street from the high vantage point of his hotel window. Slicing diagonally through the composition is a series of nearly identical parked cars, their regular forms repeating into the distance. Although the bare-branched trees lining the street contribute to the picture’s formal qualities, the image upholds the photographer’s stated preference for the manufactured over the natural: ‘I am fascinated by man’s work and the civilization he has built’, he said, ‘nature bores me as an art form.’
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Main Street, Saratoga Springs, New York (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Gelatin-silver print |
Brief description | Photograph by Walker Evans, 'Main Street, Saratoga Springs, New York', 1931, gelatin silver print |
Physical description | Photograph |
Dimensions |
|
Object history | Walker Evans is one of the most celebrated American photographers. During the Great Depression of the 1930's, he worked for the American government’s Farm Security Administration programme, and created some of the most potent and memorable images of the era. His documentary style focussed on the details of individual human lives in unforgiving circumstances. "I am for man’s work", he said; "nature bores me as an art form". Evans went on to take pictures of people on the New York subway using a hidden camera, a series on tools and Polaroid images of rural and urban Americana. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Evans meticulously framed this view of a rainslicked street from the high vantage point of his hotel window. Slicing diagonally through the composition is a series of nearly identical parked cars, their regular forms repeating into the distance. Although the bare-branched trees lining the street contribute to the picture’s formal qualities, the image upholds the photographer’s stated preference for the manufactured over the natural: ‘I am fascinated by man’s work and the civilization he has built’, he said, ‘nature bores me as an art form.’ |
Collection | |
Accession number | 167-1977 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | July 24, 2003 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON