Artist
László Moholy-Nagy (American, born Hungary, 1895–1946)American, born Hungary, 1895–1946
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Eiffel Tower
Date1925
PlaceParis, France
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 8 7/8 × 6 5/8 in. (22.5 × 16.8 cm)
Sheet: 8 7/8 × 6 5/8 in. (22.5 × 16.8 cm)
Sheet: 8 7/8 × 6 5/8 in. (22.5 × 16.8 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Prospero Foundation
Object number84.234
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 208
Exposé
Explore Further
Department
PhotographyObject Type
took this image of the Eiffel Tower, one of his earliest datable photographs,
during his first trip to Paris. He chose a closely cropped view, looking into
the massive structure through one of the legs, and focused on a tangled network
of steel in the foreground that blocks the eye from entering the structure’s
orderly spatial recession. The image emphasizes the crisscrossing lines of the
steel construction and the sharp contrast of light and shadow.
Moholy-Nagy’s conscious departure from the more
familiar views of this landmark structure was in accord with his belief that
the function of photography was to expand the viewer’s appreciation of space.
Provenance[William Larson]; purchased by MFAH, 1984.
Exhibition History"Moholy Nagy: The Evolution of a Photographic Vision," Wellesley College Museum, 16 April - 10 June 1985; Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 2 Nov. 1985 - 5 January; Art Institute of Chicago, 31 Jan. - 13 April 1986 (LN:85.13)
"Moholy-Nagy," IVAM Centre Julio Gonzales, Valencia, Spain, 11 Feb - Apr 7, 1991, Museum Fridericianum, Kassel, Germany, Apr 21 - June 16, 1991,
Centre de la Vieille Charite des Musees de Marseilles, Marseille, France
July 5 - Sep 15, 1991(LN:91.15)
"Proto-Modern Photography," at Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, from 7-11-92 to 10-11-92 w/travel until 3-1-93 (LN:92.18).
"Evocative Presence: Twentieth Century Photographs in the Museum Collection", The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston February 27 - May 1, 1988.
"Katsura: Picturing Modernism in Japanese Architecture; Photographs by Ishimoto Yasuhiro," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Cameron Gallery, June 20-September 12, 2010.
"Utopia/ Dystopia: Construction and Destruction in Photography and Collage," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 11 March - 10 June, 2012.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in black ink, verso, center: Eifel [sic] tower // Foto Moholy = Nagy
Inscribed in black ink, verso, bottom left corner: 46. [circled]
Inscribed in black ink, verso, bottom left corner: 46. [circled]
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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