Accession Number
2013/2.109

Title
Bird Nest & Eggs

Artist(s)
Keith Carter

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1992

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
15 in x 15 in (38.1 cm x 38.1 cm)

Credit Line
Gift from the Collection of David S. Rosen MD, MPH

Subject matter
This photograph depicts a downwards view at a person’s lap and hands, which gently hold a bird nest. The hands appear to be that of a child’s. The nest occupies the upper portion of the composition, a section of it extending beyond the frame. Constructed out of a tangle of twigs and sticks, the nest contains four small speckled eggs at its center. The camera’s narrow depth of field places only the bird nest and eggs in focus, while the rest of the image slips into a soft blur. The closely-cropped, downwards perspective of the photograph and the narrow depth of field lends this image an intimate and dreamy feel, and heightens the tenderness and fragility of the subject.  

Physical Description
This photograph depicts a downward view of a person’s lap and hands, which hold a bird nest with four small eggs inside.

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
Nature
children (people by age group)
egg (material)
nests (animal architecture)
youth (life stages)