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Eleanor and Barbara, Chicago

A work made of gelatin silver print.

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  • A work made of gelatin silver print.

Date:

1953

Artist:

Harry Callahan
American, 1912–1999

About this artwork

Harry Callahan was one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, famed for his experimentation and his humanistic approach. He taught at Chicago’s Institute of Design from 1946 to 1961, and during this period he embarked on an innovative series featuring his wife, Eleanor, and their daughter, Barbara. Callahan combined features of casual snapshots (frontally posed figures, central framing, and harsh shadows) with the inherent qualities of an 8 × 10 camera (intense clarity, stillness, and large scale). This photograph from the series entered the collection at the end of Hugh Edwards’s tenure. Before retirement, Edwards wrote these departing words to Callahan: “As for so many others, your work, teaching, and influence have always been an inspiration for me and so they will continue to be.”

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Harry Callahan

Title

Eleanor and Barbara, Chicago

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1953

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image: 19.3 × 24.6 cm (7 5/8 × 9 11/16 in.); Mount: 31.6 × 37.1 cm (12 1/2 × 14 5/8 in.)

Credit Line

Photography and Media Purchase Fund

Reference Number

1970.323

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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