Accession Number
1974/1.111

Title
Carrousel

Artist(s)
Eugène Atget

Artist Nationality
French (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1923

Medium & Support
gold-toned gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
10 in x 13 in (25.4 cm x 33.02 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
Although carousels are normally associated with tinkling music and happy children, Atget's photograph of a Paris carousel is more ominous than cheerful. He depicts the amusement park ride without any children present, and the slightly oblique angle from which the photograph was taken, in tandem with the dark upper right and upper left corners (tell tale marks from Atget's circular lens), lend a foreboding quality to the image. Behind the carousel, which dominates the picture plane, a croissant stand and the façade of a building are visible and locate the scene in Paris.

Physical Description
Photograph depicting a carousel at an amusement park.

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
amusement parks
amusement rides
carousels
carousels (rides)
documentary photography
horses
modern and contemporary art