Mombasa, 2004, on Pirates Beach

2004, printed 2014

Leo Rubinfien

Associated Names
Leo Rubinfien

Artist, American, born 1953

The image shows a young boy from the waist up, walking forward with his body turned slightly to the side. His head is slightly tilted toward the camera, with a direct gaze. He has tightly braided hair close to his scalp. Dressed in a short-sleeved, light-colored shirt, he appears to be part of a group of people gathered around him. Many of them have their backs turned to the camera and are carrying children. The background features more individuals, some with braided hair, and they are all outdoors, possibly in a flat, open area with a clear sky.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    inkjet print

  • Credit Line

    Anonymous gift

  • Dimensions

    image: 40.64 × 49.53 cm (16 × 19 1/2 in.)
    sheet: 58.42 × 67.31 cm (23 × 26 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2018.181.100

Associated Artworks

See all 100 artworks
The image shows a person from the waist up, with their head tilted forward as they read or look down at something in their hands. The person has shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair that partially obscures their face. They are wearing a dark jacket over a lighter top, and their shoulder strap is visible. In their hand, they are holding a folded newspaper and another document. The background is an urban street scene with blurred figures of people walking, some with umbrellas or hoods, and the outlines of buildings lining the street. The image is in black and white.

New York, 2003, at Canal Street and Broadway

Leo Rubinfien

2003

The image is a close-up black and white photograph showing parts of two faces. The frontmost face is slightly out of focus, displaying the features from the eyebrows down to the nose, with a furrowed expression. The hair is light in color and appears to be straight. Behind this, a second face is in focus, showing part of their forehead, eyes, and nose. This person has light hair slicked back, and their eyes are directed towards something out of the frame. They are wearing a dark piece of clothing with a visible zipper. The background is not distinctly visible due to the blur, and there are no other discernible objects or jewelry in the picture. The image has a grainy texture and the text "Wounded Cities Leo Rubinfien" is superimposed on the image.

Wounded Cities

Leo Rubinfien

2014

There are three people prominently featured in the image, with a fourth person partially visible. A man is in the center, holding a young boy. The man has short, dark, slightly wavy hair and facial features including a narrow nose, a mustache, and a focused gaze to the right. He wears a sleeveless white shirt. The boy has short, slightly tousled hair and looks towards the camera, wearing a checked shirt. To the left of the man, a woman is partially visible, with only part of her face showing. She holds a young girl who also looks towards the camera, has shoulder-length dark hair and wears a dark top with flower and letter embellishments. The background shows a natural setting with trees and possibly blurred buildings or structures in the far distance.

Manila, 2005, off Epifanio de los Santos Boulevard

Leo Rubinfien

2005

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Leo Rubinfien, New York; Private collection; gift to NGA (through Steven Kasher Gallery, New York), 2018.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, along bottom in black ink: Leo Rubinfien_____Mombasa_____2004_____On Pirates Beach______4/7

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