Caroline Valenta
Natural Childbirth

Natural Childbirth
Natural Childbirth
Natural Childbirth
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Natural Childbirth
Date1957
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 9 3/8 × 7 11/16 in. (23.8 × 19.6 cm)
Sheet: 9 15/16 × 8 1/16 in. (25.3 × 20.5 cm)
Credit LineGift of Caroline Valenta's children
Object number2022.477.27
Non exposé

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
ProvenanceThe artist, d. 2013; by descent to the children of the artist; given to MFAH, 2022.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in black, verso, center: Credit LINE : // CAROLINE VALENTA [with rectangular border]
Inscribed in pencil with red pencil arrows and stamp, verso, center: Please Return To [arrow] WILLA PERCIVAL – PHOTO RESEARCH // [Address] [arrow]
Inscribed in blue ink, verso, center: “Natural Childbirth”: my picture of my daughter Lillie being born // ran in “Scope”, a medical magazine. // While lying on my back on the delivery table, I held my Rollei // upside down and looked into the mirror to see her emerge. // My doctor asked me “which was more exciting, covering // the Texas City Disaster or this.” I said they were exact opposites, // one of much death, one of new life, but I’d say equal in // getting adrenalin flowing – After my third shot, the doc said, “We’d better stop, the baby’s getting cold,” the nurse washed her, and I changed the roll of film // in my Rollei, no mean feat, I’ll say, under those circum- // stances. Then I took another pic of Lil all washed and // wrapped in a small blanket. // C.V.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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