Skip to main content

New York City

Garry Winogrand

Artwork Details

New York City
1967; printed 1978
Garry Winogrand
gelatin silver print on paper
9 x 13 7/16 in. (23.02 x 34.13 cm); ;
Gift of Stanley T. Lesser, A.B. 1951, J.D. 1953
1981/2.65.4

Description

In this image, Winogrand shows two women dressed in white in conversation with another figure. Facing the camera, the two women are framed by dark elements, the shadow of the doorway on the right and the figure in the foreground to whom they are speaking. The compression of their visual space acts to cut them off psychologically from the woman approaching at the left. As the artist said of his works, “The photograph isn’t what was photographed. It is something else. It’s a new fact.”
Carole McNamara, Assistant Director for Collections & Exhibitions
on the occasion of the exhibition New York Observed: The Mythology of the City
(July 13 – September 22, 2003)

Subject Matter:

In this photograph, two women dressed in white dresses and scarves lean against the wall of a city building. Looking forward, they appear to be in conversation with another figure with his or her back turned to the camera.  One woman’s face is serious, her gaze intent and listening, while her colleague appears lost in thought, her brow furrowed and a slight smile on her face.  The two women are framed by dark elements, the shadow of the doorway on the right and the figure in the foreground to whom they are speaking. The compression of their visual space acts to cut them off psychologically from the woman approaching at the left. Created looking over the shoulder of the figure to whom the women listen, this photograph reveals a glimpse into the intimacy of their interaction.

Physical Description:

This photograph shows two women dressed in white leaning against the wall of a city building.  They appear to be listening to a third figure whose back is to the camera.

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.