Barber Pole, Battle Creek, Nebraska

1947, printed later

Wright Morris

Associated Names
Wright Morris

Artist, American, 1910 - 1998

This is a photograph of a deserted street corner with a barber pole in the foreground. The polished sidewalk leads past old-fashioned commercial buildings lining the street. The barber pole stands prominently with red and white stripes spiraling upward to a bird atop a spherical finial. The street is empty, evoking a sense of quiet and timelessness. The lighting highlights textures on the pole and nearby building facades. Shadows cast along the pavement add depth to the composition. In the background, there are trees, distant buildings, and a partly cloudy sky. The black and white tones give the image a historical feel.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Barbara A. Koenig and Stephen E. Arkin, San Francisco, CA; gift to NGA, 2018.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1948

  • Morris, Wright. The Home Place. New York, 1948: 97.

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, bottom right in graphite: Wright Morris

Wikidata ID

Q64170115

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