Subway Portrait

1938-1941

Walker Evans

Associated Names
Walker Evans

Artist, American, 1903 - 1975

The image shows the upper body of an elderly person sitting in a side profile position. The individual has a distinct profile with a prominent nose, thin lips, and wears round spectacles. Their hair is mostly covered by a hat, adding to the shadowed expression with a slightly furrowed brow. The person is dressed in a dark coat with a visible collar above the lapel. They are seated on a bench-like seat with patterned upholstery in a dimly lit space, possibly a train or similar vehicle. The background is dark with an overhead light bulb and wooden paneling. A sign or notice is partially visible above and to their right. The lighting casts a shadow on the person's face, enhancing skin texture and facial contours.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    John Wilmerding Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 14.9 x 19.3 cm (5 7/8 x 7 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1989.11.7


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Dr. and Mrs. Kent Minichiello, Washington, DC; purchased with donated funds from John Wilmerding by NGA, 1989.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower center verso: Evans estate stamp with inventory number VI-48 added in graphite; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: WEv.131.y

Wikidata ID

Q64171762

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