9 Items in this Learning Collection
Collection Object
Collection Object
Collection Object
Collection Object

Copyright
All Rights Reserved ()

Central Park, NYC

Accession Number
2000/2.158.5

Title
Central Park, NYC

Artist(s)
Joel Meyerowitz

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1969

Medium & Support
gelatin silver print on paper

Dimensions
11 in x 14 in (27.94 cm x 35.56 cm);18 1/8 in x 22 1/8 in (46.04 cm x 56.2 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Selma & Gerald Lotenberg

Label copy
During a fashion shoot on a bridge in Central Park, Meyerowitz caught a young man in mid-air as he jumped into the water below. As with many of his other works, the scene gains both humor and significance through the juxtaposition of the very different elements—in this instance the controlled setting of the photographer and two models and the apparently spontaneous behavior of the jumping youth. Meyerowitz's composition heightens the humorous aspects as the pedestrians passing between the models and the youth look both directions, as if undecided which scene was of greater interest. One of the strengths of street photography, especially by Meyerowitz and Garry Winogrand, is the opportunity it provides the artist to recognize in an instant how the conditions of urban life can provide a whimsical scene that is unnoted by others.

Subject matter
This photograph captures multiple activities happening on a bridge in Central Park, New York City. A few people walk by on the left side of the bridge, gazing to the right as a photographer with a tripod and his assistant prepare to take an image of two women. Seemingly oblivious to this happening, a boy is shown in mid-flight as he jumps off the bridge to the left, while a man and woman in the center middleground observe. The parallel diagonal lines of the wooden floor planks and the foreshortened circular relief patterns running along the parapets add dynamism to the composition.

Physical Description
A young boy jumps off a bridge, while a fashion photography shoot is staged on the bridge.

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
Figures
bridges
bridges (built works)
buildings
males
parks (recreation areas)
photographer
photographers
standing
swimming
trees
water

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted