Photograph by
Platon, British, born 1968
Subject of
Lewis, John, American, 1940 - 2020
Date
2010; printed 2019
Medium
pigment on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 14 11/16 × 21 9/16 in. (37.3 × 54.7 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 the Reverend John Lewis, by Platon. The photograph depicts Lewis standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. He is shown in the left foreground, standing with his back to the memorial. The photograph’s perspective is from an angle that looks up at Lewis from about knee level. He is facing the left edge of the photograph and has his head turned partially in the direction of the viewer. He is looking upwards and into the distance and wears a serious expression on his face. His arms are held in front of him at his waist and he is loosely clasping his fingers together. He is wearing a long, dark overcoat, a white dress shirt, and a dark tone tie. There is a light, pentagon shaped patch over his proper left chest. In the background, on the right, is a corner of the Lincoln Memorial. Its fluted, Doric columns wrap around the base of the exterior. Each side of the memorial is lined with large bushes. Above Lewis and the memorial is a cloudy sky. 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
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
pigment prints
portraits
Topic
Activism
Civil rights
Government
Local and regional
Photography
Religion
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon
Object number
2021.33.2
Restrictions & Rights
© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd556d329d6-11d4-4a33-8427-3503cdf5d61b

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

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