Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Artist:
Beaumont Newhall, 22 Jun 1908 - 26 Feb 1993  Search this
Sitter:
Beaumont Newhall, 22 Jun 1908 - 26 Feb 1993  Search this
Medium:
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions:
Image/Sheet: 21.3 x 32.9 cm (8 3/8 x 12 15/16")
Mount: 40.7 x 50.9 cm (16 x 20 1/16")
Type:
Photograph
Place:
United States\New York
Date:
1970
Exhibition Label:
In 1937, Beaumont Newhall, then a young librarian at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), presented Photography: 1839–1937 to commemorate the first century of the medium. This began his long, distinguished career as a pioneering historian and curator. Newhall was close to many great photographers of his time and promoted the 35mm camera for works of art as well as reportage. He also made photographs himself. He made this self-portrait in 1970, the year he organized Photo Eye of the 20s for MoMA and the George Eastman House, where he then served as director. In a show that explored “the camera as a precise image maker” and “photography as a plastic medium,” he chose to hang the photographs so that passersby could see them from the streets. As he wrote, “the unexpected, inexplicable counterplay of reflected and direct images within and without is a montage, expressing the spirit of the exhibition.”
En 1937, Beaumont Newhall, entonces un joven bibliotecario del Museo de Arte Moderno de Nueva York (MoMA), organizó la exposición Photography: 1839–1937 para conmemorar el primer siglo de la fotografía. Así comenzó su larga y distinguida carrera como historiador y curador de avanzada. Newhall fue amigo de grandes fotógrafos de su tiempo y fomentó el uso de la cámara de 35 mm tanto en
el arte como en el periodismo. También practicó la fotografía. Newhall hizo este autorretrato en 1970, año en que organizó Photo Eye of the 20s para el MoMA y el museo George Eastman House, del cual era director. En esta muestra que exploraba “la cámara como creadora de imágenes precisas” y “la fotografía como medio plástico”, Newhall optó por montar las obras de modo que los transeúntes pudieran verlas desde la calle. Según escribió: “El juego inesperado e inexplicable entre las imágenes directas y reflejadas adentro y afuera es de por sí un montaje, y expresa el espíritu de la exposición”.
Topic:
Architecture\Window  Search this
Artwork\Photograph  Search this
Equipment\Camera  Search this
Exterior\Exterior with Interior View  Search this
Vehicle\Automobile  Search this
Self-portrait  Search this
Beaumont Newhall: Male  Search this
Beaumont Newhall: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\University  Search this
Beaumont Newhall: Visual Arts\Artist\Photographer  Search this
Beaumont Newhall: Visual Arts\Curator  Search this
Beaumont Newhall: Visual Arts\Art historian  Search this
Beaumont Newhall: Visual Arts\Visual arts administrator\Art museum administrator\Art museum director  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.93.16
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Copyright:
© 1970, Beaumont Newhall, © 2018, the Estate of Beaumont and Nancy Newhall/Scheinbaum and Russek Ltd., Santa Fe, New Mexico
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4fd5eaef0-5c59-4881-b1c7-854b2d0572f3
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.93.16