Lady and Lamp
Aaron Siskind
Photography
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.
MEDIUM
Gelatin silver print
DATES
1940
DIMENSIONS
Sheet: 14 x 10 7/8 in.
Image: 11 x 8 in.
SIGNATURE
Signed lower right: "Aaron Siskind"
ACCESSION NUMBER
1989.193.2
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Dr. Daryoush Houshmand
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
RECORD COMPLETENESS
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