Unknown Hotel, San Francisco

1991, printed 1994

Jim Goldberg

Associated Names
Jim Goldberg

Artist, American, born 1953

This is a photograph of a dimly lit building entrance area with various signs. The image shows a metal gate partially open, with a sign that reads "STOP DO NOT PULL GATE WAIT TILL IT BUZZ." Adjacent to the gate is a small office window with reflective glass and several signs around it, including one that says "NO TRESPASSING" and another that reads "VACANCY." There are signs advertising "ROOMS FOR RENT" and "NO PETS," as well as a reflective intercom device. The scene gives a sense of an urban setting, possibly depicting the entrance to a motel or similar establishment. The focus is on communication through signage.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection (Gift of Betsy Karel)

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 27.6 × 35.4 cm (10 7/8 × 13 15/16 in.)
    image: 25.1 × 32.5 cm (9 7/8 × 12 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.19.4719


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Jim Goldberg, San Francisco; Betsy Karel, formerly Betsy K. Frampton, Washington, DC; gift to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2001; acquired by NGA, 2015.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1995

  • Goldberg, Jim. Raised by Wolves. Zurich, 1995: 24-25.

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, across bottom in graphite: Jim Goldberg 1991/94 AP[circled] BOOK PRINT; by unknown hand, bottom right corner in graphite: 1

Wikidata ID

Q64155771

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