by Artist (513)
Andreas Feininger
American, 1906–1999
This photograph is a vintage print made from a negative dating from 1940; the time period just after Feininger arrived in New York. Initially, he explored the oldest part of Manhattan on the Lower East Side. The area depicted is just to the East of Battery Park on Water Street and Coenties Aly, where the train begins to turn back away from the East River. This area, called the Coenties Slip Curve, was between the South Ferry and Hanover Square stops, and was part of the now razed Third Avenue El line (ceased May 12, 1955).
This particular image capitalizes on the detached formalism for which was Feininger recognized, combining his interest in both innovative darkroom techniques and his appreciation of architectural contrasts. The photograph has been ferrotyped, a technique which burnishes the surface of the emulsion, leaving it highly reflective. It also features Feininger’s own enlarging and exposure notes on the verso, which indicate the exposure time for each of the four areas within the composition: the train tracks, the buildings, the foreground and the upper sky area. It was through these sketched out instructions that Feininger could ensure that he would achieve the most beneficial exposure and resulting technically accurate print each time.
American, 1906–1999
Elevated Train
1940
Object Type:
Photograph
Creation Place:
North America, American, New York
Dimensions:
11 3/16 in. x 14 in. (28.42 cm x 35.56 cm)
Medium and Support:
Gelatin silver print on paper
Accession Number:
1998.0005
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Scott
This photograph is a vintage print made from a negative dating from 1940; the time period just after Feininger arrived in New York. Initially, he explored the oldest part of Manhattan on the Lower East Side. The area depicted is just to the East of Battery Park on Water Street and Coenties Aly, where the train begins to turn back away from the East River. This area, called the Coenties Slip Curve, was between the South Ferry and Hanover Square stops, and was part of the now razed Third Avenue El line (ceased May 12, 1955).
This particular image capitalizes on the detached formalism for which was Feininger recognized, combining his interest in both innovative darkroom techniques and his appreciation of architectural contrasts. The photograph has been ferrotyped, a technique which burnishes the surface of the emulsion, leaving it highly reflective. It also features Feininger’s own enlarging and exposure notes on the verso, which indicate the exposure time for each of the four areas within the composition: the train tracks, the buildings, the foreground and the upper sky area. It was through these sketched out instructions that Feininger could ensure that he would achieve the most beneficial exposure and resulting technically accurate print each time.
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