Barbara Morgan
Emanation I

Emanation I

© Barbara Morgan, The Barbara Morgan Archives

Emanation I
Emanation I
ArtistAmerican, 1900–1992
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Emanation I
Date1940, printed 1975
Place depictedUnited States
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 16 5/8 × 13 7/8 in. (42.2 × 35.2 cm)
Sheet: 16 5/8 × 13 7/8 in. (42.2 × 35.2 cm)
Mount: 26 × 21 in. (66 × 53.3 cm)
Credit LineThe Target Collection of American Photography, museum purchase funded by Target Stores and the National Endowment for the Arts
Object number76.291
Not on view

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description

Barbara Morgan’s series of
photographs of the dancer Martha Graham are among her most well-known images.
She also experimented with photomontage and “light drawing,” a technique that
can be seen in this photograph. Created by moving a hand-held light in front of
the camera during extended exposure of the film, this image exemplifies
Morgan’s aesthetic philosophy of Rhythmic Vitality, “It doesn’t matter if it is
dance or montage or people or nature. There always has to be the presence of
energy.”
  




ProvenanceThe artist, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York; purchased by MFAH, 1976.
Exhibition HistoryExhibited "Target Collection of American Photography: A Century in Pictures",
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston December 3 - February 25, 2007
Austin Museum of Art May 19 - August 12, 2007
Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi June 5 - August 24, 2008

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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

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