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Martha Graham—Lamentation

Barbara Morgan

Artwork Details

Martha Graham—Lamentation
1935, printed 1980
Barbara Morgan
gelatin silver print on paper
13 1/16 in x 10 9/16 in (33.18 cm x 26.83 cm);22 1/8 in x 18 1/16 in (56.2 cm x 45.88 cm);19 15/16 in x 16 in (50.64 cm x 40.64 cm)
Gift of the Willard and Barbara Morgan Archives
1991/2.49

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Description

Subject Matter:

Barbara Morgan moved from California to New York City in 1930. She began photographing Martha Graham in 1935 after seeing her perform, immediately introducing herself and beginning a collaboration. Morgan photographed Graham and her company in her studio, giving her more control over the images she produced. Themes in her work included dance, capturing gesture, and depicting crucial moments in sequences of movement. This photograph represents a still moment from Martha Graham's performance of Lamentation, a modern dance choreographed to Zoltán Kodály's 1910 Piano Piece, Op. 3, No. 2.

Physical Description:

A photograph of a woman dancing. She lifts her arms up toward the right of the frame, her legs creating a diagonal across the bottom of the frame. 

Usage Rights:

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