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Anonymous — 1940s-1960s
Anonymous

1940s-1960s

Comprising nineteen gelatin silver prints, one of which is mounted to a police record, this anonymous collection offers a haunting visual document spanning roughly two decades of the mid-twentieth century. The works capture an unidentified perspective on an era marked by profound social and political transformation, their unknown printing dates adding an additional layer of mystery to their origins. Stripped of authorship and precise context, the photographs invite viewers to confront questions of identity, surveillance, and the fragmented nature of historical memory.

Medium
Nineteen gelatin silver prints, one mounted to a police record, printing dates unknown.

🔨 Auction Lot

Photographs

May 19, 2016

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About this work

Anonymous, 1940s-1960s

Comprising nineteen gelatin silver prints, one of which is mounted to a police record, this anonymous collection offers a haunting visual document spanning roughly two decades of the mid-twentieth century. The works capture an unidentified perspective on an era marked by profound social and political transformation, their unknown printing dates adding an additional layer of mystery to their origins. Stripped of authorship and precise context, the photographs invite viewers to confront questions of identity, surveillance, and the fragmented nature of historical memory.

Medium
Nineteen gelatin silver prints, one mounted to a police record, printing dates unknown.
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Monochrome, 20th Century, Twentieth Century, Anonymous Artist, Vernacular Photography, Documentary Style, Archival Photography, Portrait Series, Documentary Photography, Black and White Photography, Gelatin Silver Print, Historical Document, Vintage Photography, Found Photography, Photographic Series, Monochromatic, Portrait Photography, Police Record, Mid-Century, Mid-Century Photography, Neutral Mood

More works by Anonymous

Collected by

Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago