Calvin
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- Photograph by
- Johnson, Rashid, American, born 1977
- Subject of
- Unidentified Man or Men
- Date
- 1999
- Medium
- Van Dyke print (silver image on paper)
- Dimensions
- H x W x D (frame): 40 3/4 × 33 × 7/8 in. (103.5 × 83.8 × 2.2 cm)
- H x W x D (sheet): 30 1/2 × 22 7/8 in. (77.5 × 58.1 cm)
- Caption
- Rashid Johnson created the portrait Calvin as part of his first photo series, Seeing in the Dark. He wanted the series to document a group of men from Chicago whom Johnson prefers to speak of as "in transition," instead of by the dehumanizing label "homeless." These intimate portraits challenge the viewer to see the men as individuals, with distinct personalities and lives. The effect is to lift the veil of invisibility that allows our society to marginalize and dismiss these people as the "undeserving poor." The portrait of Calvin reveals a man whose dignity has not been tarnished by the circumstance of his life. His religion is presented as a central component of his identity, as demonstrated by the prominent display of his cross.
- Description
- A brown-and-white photograph portrait of a man using the Vandyke brown printing process. The man looks into the camera, holding his right hand at his neck, while a crucifix worn on a necklace rests on his hand. Outside the upper and lower borders of the printed image are brush strokes of the paper coating solution, from priming the paper prior to initiating the printing process. The work is signed [AP] at the recto lower left corner. Recto at bottom right in pencil is [Rashid Johnson]. The photograph is matted and framed.
- Place captured
- Chicago,Cook County,Illinois,United States,North and Central America
- Portfolio/Series
- The "Seeing in the Dark" series
- Classification
- Visual Arts
- Type
- photographic prints
- portraits
- Topic
- Art
- Christianity
- Photography
- Poverty
- Religion
- Urban life
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jumaane Ekundayo N'Namdi, N'Namdi Contemporary
- Object number
- 2015.184
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Rashid Johnson, Courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth, and David Kordansky Gallery
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us atNMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu