Black Couple Sitting Side by Side on a NYC Subway Car

No image available

Black Couple Sitting Side by Side on a NYC Subway Car

c. 1960–2000

Sophie Rivera

(American, 1938–2021)

Culture

America

Medium

gelatin silver print

Measurements

Image: 36.8 x 36.8 cm (14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.); Sheet: 50.6 x 40 cm (19 15/16 x 15 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Whitehill Art Purchase Endowment Fund 2024.147

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Estimates suggest that in 1960, the subway was a primary mode of transportation for around 50% of New York City’s residents.

Description

Rivera was an avid street photographer. One of her favorite places to photograph people was in the New York City subway system, as in this portrait of two riders. There is a precedent for this in photographic history, including works by Walker Evans (1987.152) and Lou Stoumen (2018.378) in the museum’s collection. However, their subjects were unaware of being photographed, whereas Rivera here engaged with the sitters.