Provenance

Darryl Cowherd

American, born 1940

Explore selected works

This is a photograph of two hands constrained by handcuffs. The image is in black and white. The hands are positioned closely together and secured by a pair of metal handcuffs. The background is softly out of focus. Light falls across the scene, highlighting the contours and surface of the skin and metal.
Ernest Cole, Handcuffed blacks were arrested for being in white area illegally, 1960—1966, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.2

Handcuffed blacks were arrested for being in white area illegally

Ernest Cole · 1960—1966 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.2

The image shows a close-up of an individual. The person is facing slightly to the right, with their head turned. They have a strong facial profile, short hair, and are wearing dark sunglasses. They have large, dangling earrings and are wearing a light-colored garment over a patterned or cable knit top. In the background, partially visible faces of other people appear.
Darryl Cowherd, Whispering, Chicago, c. 1967, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.3

Whispering, Chicago

Darryl Cowherd · c. 1967 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.3

The image shows a man seated in profile facing to the left. He has short, well-groomed hair and is wearing dark sunglasses, a dark suit, white collared shirt, and a patterned tie. He holds sheets of paper. Another person wearing a hat and sunglasses is slightly blurred behind him. The setting appears to be indoors with other people seated closely together.
Darryl Cowherd, Stokely Carmichael, Unknown Chicago Church, c. 1968, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.6

Stokely Carmichael, Unknown Chicago Church

Darryl Cowherd · c. 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.6

This black-and-white photograph shows a group of men standing in a line against a wall, with their backs towards us. The line stretches diagonally across the photograph, starting in the bottom left corner and stretching towards the center of the image, ending near the right edge. Almost all the men are completely nude, except for the man closest to us, who wears dark trousers. The men are raising their arms in the air, and some wear bracelets or watches visible on their wrists. The men have a variety of skin tones, from light to medium-toned to dark. They all have short hair. The room has a simple interior with a sink on the right, plain white walls with one dark section, like a chalkboard, behind the men, and an air duct near the ceiling in the upper right corner. Small white towels lay on the black floor near the feet of each man.
Ernest Cole, During group medical examination, the nude men are herded through a string of doctor’s offices, c. 1960, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.1

During group medical examination, the nude men are herded through a string of doctor’s offices

Ernest Cole · c. 1960 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.1

This is a photograph of an entrance with boarded-up doors featuring graffiti. The image captures a doorway that is closed off with panels of plywood, onto which several phrases are painted in black, bold, and uneven handwriting. The central message reads "THE TIME IS NOW" with an arrow pointing downwards, and other visible texts include "BE BLACK" and "RIGHT." The building's exterior surrounding the door is ornate with decorative detailing and shows signs of weathering. On the concrete steps leading to the door, more words and messages appear to be written, though some are less legible.
Darryl Cowherd, The Time Is Now, c. 1964, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.4

The Time Is Now

Darryl Cowherd · c. 1964 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.4

This is a photograph of a busy street scene in an urban environment. The black and white image captures a moment outside a storefront with signs partially visible above the people present. Various individuals are engaged in different activities—standing, walking, and interacting—on a sidewalk that appears to be littered with debris. The storefront behind them features barred windows and dark tiles. The street is bustling with energy, with a sense of motion as individuals move or stand in clusters, absorbed in their immediate surroundings. The photograph's composition brings a focus to the individuals in the center.
Ernest Cole, On a Saturday afternoon in the heart of Johannesburg, five Tsotsis mug a white man, 1960, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.9

On a Saturday afternoon in the heart of Johannesburg, five Tsotsis mug a white man

Ernest Cole · 1960 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.9

The image shows the silhouette of a person from the waist up, captured from behind. The individual is standing with their arms crossed on a balcony or elevated platform, facing away from the camera. Their facial features are not visible due to the angle and lighting, and they appear to be wearing a dark, snug-fitting head covering with a small protrusion at the top. The person's clothing is not distinctly detailed but seems to be form-fitting. The surrounding area includes a wooden railing with vertical balusters, giving a sense of elevation. The background is a plain, light sky, creating a high contrast with the silhouette of the person and the wooden structure.
Darryl Cowherd, Back Porch Tommy, Chicago, 1965, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.7

Back Porch Tommy, Chicago

Darryl Cowherd · 1965 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.7

The image shows a close-up profile of a person's face, mainly focusing on the left side. It includes the nose, mouth, and a partially closed eye with fine details, highlighting the skin texture under dramatic lighting. The person's hair is partially visible at the top of the frame, complementing the strong shadow contrast. There is no clothing or jewelry visible due to the tight framing of the photograph. The background appears plain and uniformly bright, emphasizing the facial features sharply against it.
Darryl Cowherd, Benin, c. 1968, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.8

Benin

Darryl Cowherd · c. 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.8

The image shows the upper body and face of a seated man. His head is tilted back slightly, with a thoughtful expression. He has a full beard, mustache, and short hair. The man wears a garment with wide, horizontal black stripes on a lighter background and a beaded necklace around his neck. In front of him is a microphone stand. His left hand rests on a surface in the foreground. The background is plain and dark.
Darryl Cowherd, Imamu Baraka, Wall of Respect, 1967, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2022.102.5

Imamu Baraka, Wall of Respect

Darryl Cowherd · 1967 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2022.102.5