Provenance

John S. Parsley

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This is a photograph of the exterior of a modern multi-story building with a sleek, reflective glass facade. The image showcases the array of windows and architectural lines of the building, with a repeating geometric pattern. The structure has a curved design, and the black-and-white composition highlights varying shades of grey and adds depth and contrast. A streetlamp is visible at the bottom of the image.
Barbara Crane, Chicago Loop, 1978, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.12

Chicago Loop

Barbara Crane · 1978 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.12

The image shows film strips with circular frames displaying abstract forms and shapes. These shapes appear intertwined and overlapping, resembling organic figures. The arrangement suggests similarities to coiled creatures or ammonites within shells, highlighting the fluid and sculptural quality of the compositions. The varying angles and encapsulated shapes present an intriguing visual narrative that feels both familiar and enigmatic.
Barbara Crane, Cosmic Forms II, 1968, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.20

Cosmic Forms II

Barbara Crane · 1968 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.20

The image focuses on parts of a human body in black and white. Specific body parts, like a forearm and elbow, are shown in close-up. The body's surface texture and shadows are highlighted, with light creating contrasts. The person's position is ambiguous, and details like facial features, hair, and clothing are absent. No jewelry or objects are present, and the backdrop is black.
Barbara Crane, Human Forms, 1965, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.16

Human Forms

Barbara Crane · 1965 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.16

The image shows a grid of rectangular shapes outlined by thick, dark lines on a building's exterior. The shapes resemble windows with some reflections and blinds visible. The intersecting lines and glass panes create an abstract pattern.
Barbara Crane, Chicago Loop, 1977, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.11

Chicago Loop

Barbara Crane · 1977 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.11

The image depicts a man in a profile view, facing towards the right side of the frame. The man has a mustache, dark wavy hair, and is wearing small, round eyeglasses. He is dressed in a dark suit with a high-collared white shirt and a black bowtie. The background is indistinct and softly blurred.
Alvin Langdon Coburn, Alfred Stieglitz, 1907, photogravure, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley in memory of Thomas M. Melo, 2019.113.1

Alfred Stieglitz

Alvin Langdon Coburn · 1907 · photogravure ·  Accession ID  2019.113.1

The image displays an array of repeating rectangular shapes arranged in a diagonally descending pattern on one side, next to vertical lines on the adjacent side. This creates an abstract composition resembling the facade of a skyscraper with numerous windows. The sharp lines and repetitive forms may evoke an intricate grid or a series of keys on a typewriter, emphasizing a repetitive architectural rhythm.
Barbara Crane, Chicago Loop, 1977, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.9

Chicago Loop

Barbara Crane · 1977 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.9

The image features a smooth, curving line that arches upward from the bottom left and stretches across the composition.
Barbara Crane, Human Forms, 1965, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.15

Human Forms

Barbara Crane · 1965 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.15

The image displays broken slabs and wires arranged in an abstract pattern on a vertical surface. The structure is made of fragmented concrete, resembling a stack of shattered stone or a dilapidated wall. The wires and rebar create a crisscrossing grid. In the background, there are geometrical outlines resembling scaffolding or building supports. The setting suggests a partially demolished structure.
Barbara Crane, Chicago Loop, 1978, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.13

Chicago Loop

Barbara Crane · 1978 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.13

The image depicts intersecting diagonal and vertical lines forming an 'X' shape overlaid with a grid-like structure. The composition resembles scaffolding seen on construction sites. The textures and shadows created by sunlight give depth, while the lines evoke intersecting steel beams or support structures.
Barbara Crane, Chicago Loop, 1978, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2023.157.14

Chicago Loop

Barbara Crane · 1978 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.157.14

Joseph Sterling, The Age of Adolescence, 1959, printed 1993, gelatin silver print, Gift of John S. Parsley and Nancy Nolan Parsley, 2024.181.1

The Age of Adolescence

Joseph Sterling · 1959, printed 1993 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2024.181.1