Accession Number
2011/2.5

Title
Hardware Store

Artist(s)
Berenice Abbott

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1938

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
10 1/2 in x 13 3/8 in (26.67 cm x 33.97 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Maxine and Lawrence K. Snider

Label copy
Recent Acquisitions: Curators Choice Part I, November 12, 2011-March 18, 2012
Berenice Abbott
United States, 1898–1991
Hardware Store, 316-318 Bowery at Bleeker Street,
New York from Changing New York
1938
Gelatin silver print
Gift of Larry and Maxine Snider

Subject matter
In this frontal view of a West Village hardware store, Berenice Abbott aligned the picture frame with the rectangular form of the picture window and display of goods that spill on to the sidewalk. The shop sign that runs along the upper margin of the image is echoed by the strip of sidewalk along the bottom, further compressing the individual tools into a wall of undifferentiated objects, sorted by type. This close cropping flattens the perception of depth of the image, giving these everyday consumer goods a decorative rythm that belies their utilitarian function.

Physical Description
View of a hardware store display, with an assortment of tools and other objects in the window and displayed on the sidewalk in front of the store.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
documentary photography
hardware stores
selling
stores
tools