[Reassembly of the George Washington Statue, Union Square Park, New York]

Berenice Abbott

1929–30 · Gelatin silver print · Photographs

As part of the redesign of lower Manhattan’s Union Square Park between 1929 and 1930, the equestrian statue of George Washington by Henry Kirke Brown was relocated from its original base close to vehicular traffic to its current position within the park’s more serene green space. These two photographs of the revered statue, captured in a moment of precariousness, challenge traditional ways of thinking of monuments as unwavering symbols of power. In fact, Abbott directs our attention to the three unknown laborers working atop the pedestal by centrally featuring their efforts within the photograph’s frame.

Artist

Berenice Abbott

Date

1929–30

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Gift of Emanuel Gerard, 1977