Art

Panorama of the Army of the Cumberland

The National Museum of American History is not an art museum. But works of art fill its collections and testify to the vital place of art in everyday American life. The ceramics collections hold hundreds of examples of American and European art glass and pottery. Fashion sketches, illustrations, and prints are part of the costume collections. Donations from ethnic and cultural communities include many homemade religious ornaments, paintings, and figures. The Harry T Peters "America on Stone" collection alone comprises some 1,700 color prints of scenes from the 1800s. The National Quilt Collection is art on fabric. And the tools of artists and artisans are part of the Museum's collections, too, in the form of printing plates, woodblock tools, photographic equipment, and potters' stamps, kilns, and wheels.

Pirie Macdonald

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
Maker, subject
MacDonald, Pirie
ID Number
PG.004279.08

Marlene Dietrich

A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro portrait of actress Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich is in front of a Paul Gauguin painting in a white dress with ornate golden belt.
Description (Brief)
A Nickolas Muray 3-color carbro portrait of actress Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich is in front of a Paul Gauguin painting in a white dress with ornate golden belt. She is striking a simialr pose as the native subject of Gauguin's painting.
Recto: Signed and dated by artist (white pencil). Verso: Muray label.
Description
Nickolas Muray was born in Szeged, Hungary on February 15, 1892. Twelve years after his birth, Muray left his native town and enrolled in a graphic arts school in Budapest. Enrolling in art school was the first step on a road that would eventually lead him to study a photographic printing process called three-color carbro. In the course of his accomplished career, Muray would become an expert in this process and play a key role in bringing color photography to America.
While attending art school in Budapest, Muray studied lithography and photoengraving, earning an International Engraver's Certificate. Muray was also introduced to photography during this time period. His combined interest in photography and printmaking led him to Berlin, Germany to participate in a three-year color-photoengraving course. In Berlin, Muray learned how to make color filters, a first step in the craft that would one day become his trademark. Immediately after the completion of the course, Muray found a good job with a publishing company in Ullstein, Germany. However, the threat of war in Europe forced Muray to flee for America in 1913. Soon after his arrival in New York, Muray was working as a photoengraver for Condé Nast. His specialty was color separations and half-tone negatives.
By 1920, Muray had established a home for himself in the up-and-coming artists' haven of Greenwich Village. He opened a portrait studio out of his apartment and continued to work part time at his engraving job. Harper's Bazaar magazine gave Muray his first big assignment in 1921. The project was to photograph Broadway star Florence Reed. The magazine was so impressed with his photographs that they began to publish his work monthly. This allowed him to give up his part time job and work solely as a photographer. It did not take long for Muray to become one of the most renowned portrait photographers in Manhattan. Muray spent much of the early 1920s photographing the most famous and important personalities in New York at the time.
In his spare time Muray enjoyed fencing. In 1927, he won the National Sabre Championship and in 1928 and 1932, he was on the United States Olympic Team. During World War II, Muray was a flight lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1946
depicted
Dietrich, Marlene
maker
Muray, Nickolas
ID Number
PG.69.247.22
catalog number
69.247.22
accession number
287542

Joseph Pennell

[Portrait of Joseph Pennell] by Pirie Macdonald is a photogravure carbon print from 1922. The subject of the image is a 3/4 profile portrait of a man with a beard wearing a three-piece suit.
Description (Brief)
[Portrait of Joseph Pennell] by Pirie Macdonald is a photogravure carbon print from 1922. The subject of the image is a 3/4 profile portrait of a man with a beard wearing a three-piece suit. The lower right hand corner of the image is stamped with white pigment with the inscription "Pirie MacDonald Photographer of Men New York." The back of the matte is stamped in gold pigment with a list of prizes awarded to Pirie MacDonald followed by his name and address. Joseph Pennell (July 4, 1857- April 23, 1926) was an American lithographer, etcher, illustrator and author. His chief distinction is his biography of fellow artist James McNeill Whistler and his illustrations for the Liberty Loans campaign posters.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1922
Subject
Pennell, Joseph
Maker
MacDonald, Pirie
ID Number
PG.004279.01
accession number
162945

Roald Amundsen

[Portrait of Roald Amundsen] is a photogravure carbon print by Pirie MacDonald. It is a portrait of a man in 3/4 profile with a prominent nose dressed in black. A maker's mark appears in the lower right corner of the image. Roald Amundsen (July 16, 1872-c.
Description
[Portrait of Roald Amundsen] is a photogravure carbon print by Pirie MacDonald. It is a portrait of a man in 3/4 profile with a prominent nose dressed in black. A maker's mark appears in the lower right corner of the image. Roald Amundsen (July 16, 1872-c. June 18,1928)
was a Norwegian explorer. He holds the distinction of being the first man to reach the South Pole and the first to reach both the North and South Poles. Amundsen also made the first crossing of the arctic with fifteen others in the airship Norge. Amundsen disappeared on a rescue mission in the Barents Sea and was presumed dead though his body was never recovered.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1918
Maker
MacDonald, Pirie
Subject
Amundsen, Roald
ID Number
PG.004279.07

Jean Arp

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
maker
Newman, Arnold
ID Number
PG.69.233.02
catalog number
69.233.02
accession number
288722

Photograph of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy holding six week old John, Jr.

On January 3, 1961, photographer Richard Avedon photographed Jacqueline Kennedy and six week old John, Jr. This photograph reveals the president elect's glamorous wife to be strong, confident, protective and nurturing.Currently not on view
Description
On January 3, 1961, photographer Richard Avedon photographed Jacqueline Kennedy and six week old John, Jr. This photograph reveals the president elect's glamorous wife to be strong, confident, protective and nurturing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy, Jr., John
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.077
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.77

Photograph of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

Fashion photographer Richard Avedon photographed Jacqueline Kennedy, while still the wife of the junior Senator from Massachusetts, for "Six Faces of Beauty" in a 1958 for Harper's Bazaar.
Description
Fashion photographer Richard Avedon photographed Jacqueline Kennedy, while still the wife of the junior Senator from Massachusetts, for "Six Faces of Beauty" in a 1958 for Harper's Bazaar. The photograph reflect's Avedon's graphic style of photography through the strong use of black and white. He also used darkroom techniques to enlongate the look of her neck.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1958
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.073
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.73

Enlarged contact sheet of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy holding John, Jr

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy, Jr., John
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.070
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.70

The Hand of Man

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1902
maker
Stieglitz, Alfred
ID Number
PG.001705
catalog number
1705
accession number
55701

Picture Frames

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1965
maker
Erwitt, Elliott
ID Number
PG.72.13.96
accession number
2001.0310
catalog number
72.13.96

Jean Dubuffet

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1956
maker
Newman, Arnold
ID Number
PG.69.233.25
catalog number
69.233.25
accession number
288722

Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keefe

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1944
1944
depicted (sitter)
Stieglitz, Alfred
maker
Newman, Arnold
ID Number
PG.69.233.10
catalog number
69.233.10
accession number
288722

Pepper

Mounted gelatin silver print of Edward Weston's Pepper, 1930. The photograph shows a bell pepper resting on a curved surface with dramatic lighting.
Description (Brief)
Mounted gelatin silver print of Edward Weston's Pepper, 1930. The photograph shows a bell pepper resting on a curved surface with dramatic lighting. The photograph was printed by Edward's son Cole Weston from his father's original negative.
Edward Weston was influential in the modern photography movement beginning in the 1930s. He is well known for photographing the natural surroundings of his home on the California coast. Weston created striking works of art, some abstract, some more traditional images. A leader in American photography of the 20th century, Weston's prints were first exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1947. Afterwards, he remained interested in the national photography collection. At times, Weston recommended photographers to curators for collecting opportunities, and eventually donated a selection of his work and several cameras to the Photographic History Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
maker - negative
Weston, Edward
maker - print
Weston, Cole
ID Number
PG.69.137.03
catalog number
69.137.3
accession number
288850

The Terminal

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1893
maker
Stieglitz, Alfred
ID Number
PG.001686
catalog number
1686
accession number
55701

Enlarged Contact Sheet, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy wearing Oleg Cassini dress, three frames holding hands with Caroline

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
photographer
Avedon, Richard
dress maker
Cassini, Oleg
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.060
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.60

Enlarged Contact Sheet of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy wearing Oleg Cassini dress

In this set of twelve photographs, Jacqueline Kennedy is wearing a dress designed in collaboration with Oleg Cassini. The rosette, or cockade, on her left hip is an homage to Revoluntionay War generals Washington and Lafayette.
Description
In this set of twelve photographs, Jacqueline Kennedy is wearing a dress designed in collaboration with Oleg Cassini. The rosette, or cockade, on her left hip is an homage to Revoluntionay War generals Washington and Lafayette. Behind the roll of paper upon which she is standing, one can get a peek at the Kennedy living room in which the portrable studio was staged.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
photographer
Avedon, Richard
dress maker
Cassini, Oleg
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.057
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.57

Enlarged Contact Sheet of Caroline holding John, Jr.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Caroline
Kennedy, Jr., John
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.061
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.61

Pablo Picasso at La Californie

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1957
depicted
Picasso, Pablo Ruiz
maker
Penn, Irving
Penn, Irving
ID Number
PG.69.94
catalog number
69.94
accession number
248685

August Saint Gaudens with Shaw Memorial

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1897
maker
Cox, George Collins
ID Number
PG.76.14S7.3
catalog number
76.14S7.3
accession number
238180

Enlarged Contact Sheet of Jacqueline Kennedy holding John, Jr.

Eleven of the twelve frames on the contact sheet by photographer Richard Avedon, show Jacqueline Kennedy holding six week old John Jr.
Description
Eleven of the twelve frames on the contact sheet by photographer Richard Avedon, show Jacqueline Kennedy holding six week old John Jr. An assistant, finishing up the roll of film, captured Avedon photographing Caroline on the grounds of the Kennedy home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy, Jr., John
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.053
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.53

Boulevard of Paris

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1911
maker
Stieglitz, Alfred
ID Number
PG.001707
catalog number
1707
accession number
55701

Enlarged contact sheet of Caroline Kennedy holding John, Jr.

This contact sheet of Caroline Kennedy holding John Jr allows the viewer to see twelve photographs made by fashion photographer Richard Avedon.In frame number 203, one gets a glimpse of the compassionate big sister attempting to comfort her little brother.Currently not on view
Description
This contact sheet of Caroline Kennedy holding John Jr allows the viewer to see twelve photographs made by fashion photographer Richard Avedon.
In frame number 203, one gets a glimpse of the compassionate big sister attempting to comfort her little brother.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Caroline
Kennedy, Jr., John
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.069
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.69

Enlarged Contact Sheet of Caroline Kennedy with her father, John F. Kennedy

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Caroline
Kennedy, John F.
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.056
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.56

Enlarged Contact Sheet, John F. Kennedy, and JFK and Mrs. Kennedy holding John, Jr.

The center column of photographs on this contact sheet show John F. Kennedy with Jacqueline Kennedy holding John, Jr. the two outside columns reveal a Kennedy's discomfort at being photographed.
Description
The center column of photographs on this contact sheet show John F. Kennedy with Jacqueline Kennedy holding John, Jr. the two outside columns reveal a Kennedy's discomfort at being photographed. In the frame in the lower right, Avedon was able to to Kennedy relaxed, but the image is out of focus. It was the one photograph from this session Avedon regretted missing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1961-01-03
depicted
Kennedy, Jacqueline Bouvier
Kennedy, Jr., John
Kennedy, John F.
photographer
Avedon, Richard
maker
Avedon, Richard
ID Number
PG.67.102.063
accession number
270571
catalog number
67.102.63

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