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Ancestral Figure, Gabun, Ogowe River, Bakota
Photograph
c. 1935 (made)
c. 1935 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Museum of Modern Art, New York, held a show of African Sculpture in 1935, promoting sculpture from African countries in a fine art context. They hired the then young photographer and writer Walker Evans to record the objects on display. Most of his sets of 477 prints were destined to tour colleges for black students in the United States, but five were reserved for museums and universities, including the V&A. Evans used a plain background and straighforward lighting to stage each sculpture, resulting in clear and striking records of the artworks.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ancestral Figure, Gabun, Ogowe River, Bakota (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Gelatin-silver Print |
| Brief description | 20thC Photograph of an Ancestral Figure, Gabun, Ogowe River, Bakota by Walker Evans, 1936 |
| Physical description | Black and white photograph showing the front view of a figurative sculpture made of metals, against a plain background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Limited edition |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Purchased by the V&A |
| 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. Used in display "V and A Africa: Exploring Hidden Histories" 15th November 2012- 3rd February 2013 |
| Production | Reason For Production: Commission |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The Museum of Modern Art, New York, held a show of African Sculpture in 1935, promoting sculpture from African countries in a fine art context. They hired the then young photographer and writer Walker Evans to record the objects on display. Most of his sets of 477 prints were destined to tour colleges for black students in the United States, but five were reserved for museums and universities, including the V&A. Evans used a plain background and straighforward lighting to stage each sculpture, resulting in clear and striking records of the artworks. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2321-1936 |
About this object record
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| Record created | August 22, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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