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Eleanor and Barbara in the water

Photograph
ca. 1952-3 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Inspired by Ansel Adam's great landscapes, Harry Callahan was drawn to portray nature. The figures in the middle distance are the photographer's wife and child. Callahan would often document his family, creating intimate and delicate views of everyday life that were also meticulously crafted and strong in contrast. Although he came to photography relatively late, with no formal training, his work was soon recognized. In 1946 he was invited to teach photography at the Institute of Design in Chicago, the 'New Bauhaus', renowned for its innovative approach to design and education.

Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • Eleanor and Barbara in the water (generic title)
  • Lake Michigan (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin-silver print
Brief description
'Lake Michigan', photograph by Harry Callahan (1912-99), Chicago, ca. 1952-3
Physical description
Photograph of a seascape. In the middleground a woman and child stand partially emerged in the sea, in the background (almost out of the frame) a boy is wading.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 195mm
  • Images width: 244mm
  • Sheet height: 203mm
  • Sheet width: 252mm
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
S195 57% F10 (Numbered in pencil on the back)
Gallery label
(21/09/2007-28/06/2008)
"It's the subject matter that counts. Wanting to see more makes you grow as a person and growing makes you want to share more of the life around you. In each exploration or concern for the subject, I continue in the area for a great length of time, sometimes a couple of years. Working this way has been the result of my doing the photo series or groups. Many things I can't return to and many things I return to come out better." - Harry Callahan
(07 03 2014)
Gallery 100, ‘History of photography’, 2011-2012, label text :

Harry Callahan (1912-99)
‘Eleanor and Barbara’, ‘Lake Michigan’, ‘Eleanor and
Barbara, Chicago’, ‘Eleanor and Barbara, Chicago’
1952-3

The tiny figures in these images are the photographer’s
wife and child. Callahan often documented his family,
creating intimate views of everyday life that were
also meticulously crafted and strong in contrast.
In 1946 he was invited to teach photography at the
Institute of Design in Chicago, the ‘New Bauhaus’,
renowned for its innovative approach to design
and education.

Gelatin silver prints
Museum nos. Ph.773 to 776-1987
Credit line
Purchased 1987
Place depicted
Summary
Inspired by Ansel Adam's great landscapes, Harry Callahan was drawn to portray nature. The figures in the middle distance are the photographer's wife and child. Callahan would often document his family, creating intimate and delicate views of everyday life that were also meticulously crafted and strong in contrast. Although he came to photography relatively late, with no formal training, his work was soon recognized. In 1946 he was invited to teach photography at the Institute of Design in Chicago, the 'New Bauhaus', renowned for its innovative approach to design and education.
Collection
Accession number
PH.774-1987

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Record createdAugust 19, 2004
Record URL
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