Lady and Lamp

Aaron Siskind

Object Label

Taken in 1940, these photographs capture women in Harlem who rejected the limitations of domesticity. In Street Scene 2, there is a clear assertiveness about the standing woman, with her left arm holding a stack of newspapers and her right hand on her hip. In Lady and Lamp, the subject’s reclining posture and distanced gaze are juxtaposed with her formal attire, suggesting the need to unwind after a long day of work.

Like other New York City neighborhoods at the time, Harlem was still recovering from poverty, overcrowding, and other devastating symptoms of the Great Depression. Details in these photographs, such as the ripped fabric on the arms of the chair and the “Furnished Room” si, hint gently at the harsh conditions that these modern urban women were up against.

Caption

Aaron Siskind (American, 1903–1991). Lady and Lamp, 1940. Gelatin silver print, Sheet: 14 x 10 7/8 in. Image: 11 x 8 in. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. Daryoush Houshmand, 1989.193.2. © Aaron Siskind Foundation.

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Photography

Title

Lady and Lamp

Date

1940

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Classification

Photograph

Dimensions

Sheet: 14 x 10 7/8 in. Image: 11 x 8 in.

Signatures

Signed lower right: "Aaron Siskind"

Credit Line

Gift of Dr. Daryoush Houshmand

Accession Number

1989.193.2

Rights

© Aaron Siskind Foundation

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