Dune, White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

c. 1942, printed 1981

Ansel Adams

Associated Names
Ansel Adams

Artist, American, 1902 - 1984

The image shows a monochrome view from a slightly elevated angle, capturing textures and shadows on the sand. The horizon is near the top, with a suggestion of distant ground and no distinct sky visible. Closest to us are desert plants, with a bare-stemmed plant in the center, casting a shadow toward the viewer. The rippled texture of the sand is visible, while the color palette consists of shades of gray, emphasizing contrasts between light and shadow. Shadows of the plants are cast long against the sand, adding to the dramatic effect of the image.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Virginia B. Adams

  • Dimensions

    overall: 49.9 x 39.2 cm (19 5/8 x 15 7/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.3.53


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Virginia B. Adams, Carmel, CA; gift to NGA, 1986.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1976

  • Southwest 1976, 87.

1985

  • Alinder, James, and Nicolai Cikovsky, Jr. Ansel Adams: Classic Images, The Museum Set. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Boston, 1985: 43.

Inscriptions

lower right on mount in graphite: Ansel Adams

Wikidata ID

Q64144913

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