Ralph Gibson

American, born 1939

Explore selected works

This is a photograph of a staircase. The image shows a section of a stairway with a winding staircase covered in textured fabric and held down by metal rods. The handrail is wooden and supported by decorative metal balusters. The play of light and shadow creates contrasts, particularly where the dark background meets the textured details of the stairs and railing. Shadows add depth and mystery to the photograph.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1991, dye imbibition print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1996.61.7

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1991 · dye imbibition print ·  Accession ID  1996.61.7

The image shows a partial view of a person's upper body, specifically focusing on their hands and torso. The person stands with one hand raised, holding onto the edge of a piece of fabric above their head, partially obscuring their face from view. Their facial features and hair are not visible due to the shadow and positioning of the fabric. The person is wearing a dark suit, a light-colored dress shirt, a textured vest with buttons, and a wide tie. On their left hand, they wear a simple ring on the fourth finger. The person's other hand appears to be holding a pair of glasses. The background is completely dark.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1985, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1996.61.6

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1985 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1996.61.6

This is a photograph of a section of pavement with a white line and an object similar to a rod or stick. The image is framed at an angle emphasizing a strong diagonal formed by the white line on a textured pavement surface. In the bottom left corner, a dark textured object is partially visible. The rod extends across the image. The photograph is in high-contrast black and white, accentuating the textures and lines clearly.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1972, gelatin silver print, Gift of Raymond W. Merritt, 2002.153.1

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1972 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2002.153.1

This is a photograph of the bow of a metal boat with hands gripping its edge. The image shows a close-up view of the front part of a metal boat, highlighting its riveted surfaces and slightly worn texture. In the center, there is a rounded shape, possibly a buoy or a rounded metal fixture. Above this central focal point, hands grip the rim of the boat as if emerging from the water. The scene is captured in black and white, emphasizing the contrast between the metal surface and the texture of the water in the background. This composition brings attention to the tactile nature of the scene, with the hands adding a sense of narrative or action amidst the stillness of the boat and water.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1969, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1998.128.1

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1969 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1998.128.1

This is a photograph of a partially opened door with a hand resting on the doorknob. The image is black and white. The door is visible with paneling, situated in a snug, narrow corridor. Light from an unseen source outside the frame casts stark shadows on the adjacent wall, creating an elongated shadow of the hand. The wooden floorboards add to the atmosphere of a quiet, deserted space, where light and shadow play a central role in the photograph's composition.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1996.61.5

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1996.61.5

The image shows the upper body of a woman standing outdoors. She is facing the camera, with parts of her face obscured by long, dark hair. Her facial features, including her eyes and lips, are visible. She wears a patterned scarf around her neck and a dark coat. The background is a blurred outdoor environment, possibly a park or wooded area, with leafless branches in the foreground and soft-focused trees in the background. In the foreground, an outstretched hand is reaching toward her. The photograph is in black and white.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1967, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1998.128.3

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1967 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1998.128.3

The image shows a person with their back to the camera, focusing on their midsection and arms. They have their hands folded behind their back, holding a white flower with a short stem. The person is wearing dark-colored jeans and a jacket with visible stitching and a cuffed sleeve button. The background is softly out-of-focus with subtle tones, possibly suggesting an outdoor setting.
Ralph Gibson, Untitled, 1960, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1998.128.2

Untitled

Ralph Gibson · 1960 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1998.128.2

This is a photograph of a hand holding a cane casting a shadow on the ground. The image captures a close-up of a hand grasping the top of a cane, which has white bands on its shaft. The lower portion of the frame shows the strong, elongated shadow cast by the cane and hand against the bright ground. The background features elements of a textured wall and patterned shadows that add depth to the scene, emphasizing the contrast between light and dark areas within the photograph.
Ralph Gibson, San Francisco, 1960, gelatin silver print, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond W. Merritt, 1996.61.4

San Francisco

Ralph Gibson · 1960 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  1996.61.4