John Cohen

American, 1932 - 2019

Explore selected works

The image shows a group of people standing in an outdoor space. The central focus is on two children wearing hats who appear to be dancing. Surrounding them are other individuals, some playing musical instruments, including guitars. The ground is dirt, indicating an outdoor setting. The clothing and style suggest a rural or traditional setting.
John Cohen, Kids Dancing the Huayno, Sacsamarca, Peru, 1964, printed 1997, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4581

Kids Dancing the Huayno, Sacsamarca, Peru

John Cohen · 1964, printed 1997 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4581
The image features an individual seated, with their upper body visible. The person is holding one hand to their head and the other hand holding a cigarette close to their mouth. They have curly hair and a relaxed facial expression. The person is wearing a long-sleeved shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The backdrop includes a lightly textured wall with cracks and a wooden floor molding at the bottom.
John Cohen, Bob Dylan in My Loft on 3rd Avenue, New York, 1962, printed 1995, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of John Cohen in honor of Dio & Gabel Cramer), 2015.19.4958

Bob Dylan in My Loft on 3rd Avenue, New York

John Cohen · 1962, printed 1995 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4958
The image shows a man playing the violin in a wooden room. He has short, neatly combed hair and is wearing a light-colored shirt and overalls. There is a child to the left of him, looking at the camera. In the background, there is a sideboard with various household items, including a ceramic vase with flowers. The room is warmly lit, with wooden walls and a visible ceiling.
John Cohen, Farmer Playing Fiddle, North Georgia, 1961, printed 1997, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4582

Farmer Playing Fiddle, North Georgia

John Cohen · 1961, printed 1997 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4582
The image depicts three individuals in various poses. One person at the left is seen from behind wearing a dark jacket with a light stripe. The person on the right is playing a guitar and wearing glasses with short hair. The person in the center has curly hair, their eyes closed, and is wearing a suit with a pocket handkerchief. The background is neutral with a light source from above creating shadows.
John Cohen, Woody Guthrie at Cooper Union, 1960, printed 1997, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of John Cohen in honor of Dio & Gabel Cramer), 2015.19.4959

Woody Guthrie at Cooper Union

John Cohen · 1960, printed 1997 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4959
This is a photograph of a scene set indoors. In the background, there is a backdrop of white fabric with dark triangular shapes. In the foreground, a figure lies reclined, with another figure standing behind them in a shrouded costume with a large geometric headdress. The lighting casts shadows, and in the lower section of the photograph, several seated individuals are visible.
John Cohen, Red Grooms and Terry Barrell, "The Burning Building", December 1959, gelatin silver print, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 2000.135.1

Red Grooms and Terry Barrell, "The Burning Building"

John Cohen · December 1959 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2000.135.1
The image shows an urban scene from an elevated viewpoint, looking out from a window across a row of buildings. The skyline consists of building tops, with a larger distant building visible in the background. In the middle section, more buildings with dimly lit windows are visible. Near the foreground, a bar with a figure inside is seen through large windows. The image is monochromatic with a grayscale palette, conveying a somber mood, heightened by the contrast between dark buildings and illuminated windows. The image appears to use a soft focus or blurred technique.
John Cohen, Tenth Street, New York City, 1959, gelatin silver print, Fund for Living Photographers, 2003.18.1

Tenth Street, New York City

John Cohen · 1959 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2003.18.1
The image shows two individuals performing close to a microphone. The photograph is in black and white, focusing on their expressive faces showing strong emotions. The composition is tight on their faces, emphasizing the emotions with high contrast lighting. The shallow depth of field keeps the focus on the subjects' faces, with the background blurred.
John Cohen, Gospel Singers, Harlem, 1954, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4580

Gospel Singers, Harlem

John Cohen · 1954 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4580
This is a photograph of a stage performance viewed by an audience. The image captures a theater setting from a unique angle, which includes a wooden stage floor coming diagonally from the lower left to the upper right of the photo. On the stage, two figures stand near a microphone. Toward the right side of the image, an audience is seated, partially shadowed, creating a contrast with the illuminated stage. The image is in black and white. On the left side, posters are visible along the bottom edge of the stage.
John Cohen, Folk Music Concert with Oscar Brand, New York City, c. 1959, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of the artist), 2015.19.4583

Folk Music Concert with Oscar Brand, New York City

John Cohen · c. 1959 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4583