Subway Portrait

1938-1941

Walker Evans

Associated Names
Walker Evans

Artist, American, 1903 - 1975

The image shows the upper portion of an individual's body, specifically from the shoulders up. The person is sitting with their head slightly tilted to the side. Their eyes are closed and the expression on their face is calm and relaxed. Their facial features include a prominent nose and some wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. The person has medium-length hair peeking out from beneath a hat that they are wearing. The hat is dark in color and covers much of the head. The individual is wearing a dark coat with a high collar. There is a large button visible on the coat just below the collar. In the background, there is a blurred and indistinct surface, which appears to be part of a building or structure, with a line running horizontally across it. The overall tone of the photograph is monochromatic, with a grainy texture.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Kent and Marcia Minichiello

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to image): 6.9 x 5 cm (2 11/16 x 1 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1988.56.4


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Dr. and Mrs. Kent Minichiello, Washington, DC; gift to NGA, 1988.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1991

  • Walker Evans: Subway Photographs and Other Recent Acquisitions, National Gallery of Art, Washington; Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, 1991-1992.

Bibliography

1991

  • Greenough 1991, pl. 38.

Inscriptions

across center verso: Evans estate stamp with inventory number VI-2v added in graphite; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: INV#4

Wikidata ID

Q64171141

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