%C2%A9 Estate Adolf Fassbender%2C Fassbender Foundation
Dynamic Symbol, New York World's Fair, 1939
Adolf Fassbenderexpand_more
Gelatin silver printexpand_more
The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fundexpand_more 88.44.13
Not on Viewexpand_more
This photograph features the Trylon, a 700-foot-tall spike, and the Perisphere, a 200-foot-wide ball. They were both constructed as spectacles for the New York World’s Fair in 1939. Although it may seem like the spike and ball are “photoshopped” in (well before Photoshop existed), they were real.
The picture carries with it a sense of Futurism (an early 1900s art movement which focused on speed, technology, machinery and violence) and Suprematism (a contemporary Russian art movement characterized by simple geometric shapes and spiritual purity). The large, forms dominate the space, making the people seem small. The simplicity of the geometric shapes show the potential of photography as a fine art form, at a time when photography was only just beginning to be accepted as such.
Details
- Title
- Dynamic Symbol, New York World's Fair
- Artist Life
- American (born Germany), 1884 - 1980
- Role
- Photographer
- Accession Number
- 88.44.13
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.
© Estate Adolf Fassbender, Fassbender Foundation