- 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
- 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.




