Untitled, Subway

1980, printed 2006

Bruce Davidson

Associated Names
Bruce Davidson

Artist, American, born 1933

The image features the upper half of a man's body, with his head and shoulders visible. He is leaning slightly out of a subway train window, looking to the right. The man has a beard, short hair covered by a dark hat with a badge reading "84758" and a small embroidered eagle, and wears clear-rimmed glasses. He is wearing a light-colored uniform shirt. The subway car interior is visible, with graffiti on the walls and metal framing. In the background, the subway is dimly lit, with a long row of overhead lights extending into the distance, creating a sense of depth and an urban environment.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    dye imbibition print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Michael and Jane Wilson

  • Dimensions

    image: 37.4 × 56.4 cm (14 3/4 × 22 3/16 in.)
    sheet: 50.8 × 60.96 cm (20 × 24 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.137.32

Associated Artworks

See all 47 artworks
This is a photograph of a book cover. The cover is a muted dark gray color with minimalist typography. The text "BRUCE DAVIDSON" is near the center and "SUBWAY" is directly below it in larger font size. The text is embossed into the cover, merging with its color scheme. The overall look is sleek and understated, with an elegant and modern aesthetic emphasizing simplicity and typography.

Subway

Bruce Davidson

1980

The image shows a man with a bald head and glasses, depicted from the waist up, standing next to a subway train. He is positioned facing slightly to the side, with his body turned towards the viewer. His facial features include prominent brows and a serious expression. He is wearing a dark coat, and a woman beside him is visible, wearing a scarf and looking in the same direction. Both individuals are near the entrance of a subway car that is old and covered with graffiti. Inside the subway car, several people are visible through the window, some holding onto overhead straps. The lighting is dim, with fluorescent lights illuminating the platform. The background features the subway interior and graffiti-covered walls.

Untitled, Subway

Bruce Davidson

1980

The image displays a woman in a subway car. She is standing, wearing a fur coat with long, blonde hair and a neutral expression. In the background, other passengers are visible seated. The subway car features red doors with graffiti and warning signs, along with advertisements above them, including one reading "Come home to Carolina." Outside the subway windows, there is a sunset cityscape with buildings and train tracks against a pink and purple sky.

Untitled, Subway

Bruce Davidson

1980


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Michael and Jane Wilson, Wilson Centre for Photography, London; gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2012

  • I Spy: Photography and the Theater of the Street, 1938 – 2010, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, April 22 – August 5, 2012

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, center in graphite: Bruce Davidson; by unknown hand, lower right corner in graphite: UNTITLED, SUBWAY 1980 / PORTFOLIO EDITION 2/6

Wikidata ID

Q64145566

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