Sullivan’s Midgets III

ExpandFavorite

Images(4)

Artist Joseph Schwartz (American, 1913–2013)American, 1913–2013

CultureAmerican

Titles

Sullivan’s Midgets III

Date1939

Place depictedNew York, New York, United States

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsImage: 8 5/16 × 11 3/16 in. (21.1 × 28.4 cm)
Sheet: 8 5/16 × 11 3/16 in. (21.1 × 28.4 cm)
Mat: 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Charles Isaacs and Carol Nigro in honor of Anne Wilkes Tucker on the occasion of her retirement

Object number2015.136

Not on view

Explore Further

Department

Photography

Object Type

PHOTOGRAPHS

DescriptionBorn in Brooklyn and reared in a housing project, Schwartz first learned to photograph to support a commercial art career, but after studying with Sidney Grossman at the New York Photo League (an inexpensive school and exhibition space), he also developed his skills as a documentary photographer. Except during his service in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II, his career was sustained by his skills as a lithographer but devoted to documenting underserved communities, particularly African American.
Provenance[Richard Mooer]; [Charles Isaacs and Carol Nigro, New York]; given to MFAH, 2015.
Published References "Folk Photography: Songs I've Never Written." [San Luis Obispo, Calif.] : J. Schwartz, c. 2000 [Sullivan Midgets I, II, and III included, unnumbered pages] A variant image illustrated as plate 45 in: The Radical Camera: New York's Photo League 1936-1951, Klein and Evans, Jewish Museum NY, 2011. Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscribed on verso lower center: SULLIVAN MIDGETS III - 1930s // 6548

Illegible marks on verso center - see image in TMS

Signed on verso lower right: Joe Schwartz

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.