Photograph by
Platon, British, born 1968
Subject of
Birmingham Police Department, founded 1871
Date
2010; printed 2019
Medium
pigment on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 14 9/16 × 21 7/16 in. (37 × 54.5 cm)
H x W (sheet): 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 61 cm)
H x W (matted): 22 × 28 in. (55.9 × 71.1 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of an armored riot car used by the Birmingham Police Department, by Platon. The white car is depicted from the front. The hood of the car and the front tire wells are covered in white, sloped plated armor. The windshield is small, narrow, rectangular, and dark. Centered above the windshield is a smaller, rectangular window that is also dark. The roof of the car is covered in white armor. The headlights are protected with a thick metal mesh. The edges of two additional window are visible on the passenger and driver sides of the car. Emblazoned on the front of the car is a dark painted device of an eagle with its wings spread over a banner and shield with black text that reads [BIRMINGHAM / POLICE]. The background of the photograph is black. The photograph has a thick white border. The edition number, [5/12], is printed in the bottom left corner. The photographer’s signature and date, [Platon 19], is handwritten in the bottom right corner. Inside the border, at the bottom center, is the photographer’s embossed mark: [PLATON ? / EDITIONED ? / PRINT ?[encircled between two bands of embossed dots]]. The back of the photograph is plain and white.
Place printed
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Place captured
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
pigment prints
Topic
Activism
American South
Civil rights
Law
Photography
Police brutality
Transportation
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon
Object number
2021.33.21
Restrictions & Rights
© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5716c9be7-7564-4f63-bfac-4ce5ad9b1a7c

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

Share this page