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Terrors and Pleasures of Levitation, No. 99

Aaron Siskind

Artwork Details

Terrors and Pleasures of Levitation, No. 99
1961
Aaron Siskind
gelatin silver print on paper
6 13/16 in x 4 9/16 in (17.3 cm x 11.59 cm);4 5/8 in x 4 1/2 in (11.75 cm x 11.43 cm);19 3/8 in x 14 3/8 in (49.21 cm x 36.51 cm)
Gift of the Betty Parsons Foundation
1986/1.184

Description

Subject Matter:

In this image, a leaping man is pictured in mid-air. Taken at a fast shutter speed from a low vantage point, the man appears suspended, with arms outstretched and legs tucked backward. A play of highlights and shadows accentuates his musculature and the tension of his posture. The sky behind is rendered as a uniformly bright field of white. It is part of a series of photographs by Siskind, which feature the athleticism of people jumping off the Chicago waterfront.

Physical Description:

A photograph of a leaping man in mid-air with arms outstretched and legs tucked backward viewed from below.

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.