White House Ruin, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona

1942, printed 1981

Ansel Adams

Associated Names
Ansel Adams

Artist, American, 1902 - 1984

The image features a vast and towering rock face seen from a low angle. The horizon is not visible, focusing on the steep cliff. At the base of the cliff, there is an ancient stone structure with small openings resembling windows. The rock surface above shows vertical striations with light and shadow play, creating texture. The style is similar to black-and-white photography, emphasizing details and contrast of the stone. The color palette consists of various shades of grey, from dark blacks to bright whites. Foliage near the bottom adds organic texture against the solid forms of the architecture and cliff.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Virginia B. Adams

  • Dimensions

    overall: 36.9 x 49.8 cm (14 1/2 x 19 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1986.3.56

  • Series Title

    Museum Set


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

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

Associated Names

Bibliography

1972

  • Morgan & Morgan 1972, 59.

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: 33.

Inscriptions

lower right on mount in graphite: Ansel Adams

Wikidata ID

Q64144917

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