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Subway Portrait

1938
Walker Evans (American, 1903–1975)
Though Evans generally preferred to use a large-format view camera, for his New York City subway pictures he selected a 35mm Contax. Its small frame was critical for his project, as he photographed his subjects surreptitiously, the camera almost entirely concealed by his topcoat and operated by a cable that tucked into his sleeve. Working contrary to the longstanding tradition of posed portraiture, Evans captured his subjects unguarded and unawares: engrossed in the newspaper, lost in thought, laughing, chatting, or watching fellow passengers.

Object Details

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