Photograph by
Platon, British, born 1968
Subject of
Mahal, Taj, American, born 1942
Date
2011; printed 2019
Medium
pigment on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 19 7/8 × 20 in. (50.5 × 50.8 cm)
H x W (sheet): 24 × 20 in. (61 × 50.8 cm)
H x W (matted): 22 × 28 in. (55.9 × 71.1 cm)
Description
A black-and-white photograph of Taj Mahal, by Platon. Taj Mahal is depicted seated, holding a banjo in playing position. He is turned in three-quarters pose towards the left edge pf the photograph and shown from the thighs up. His chin is tilted towards his chest and he is looking sideways towards the viewer with a serious expression on his face. He is wearing a black, banded, Stetson style hat, and a black, pinstripe suit over a dark tone dress shirt. The banjo is resting in his lap with his proper left hand wrapped around the banjo neck and his fingers arranged in a chord position over the frets. The perspective of this photograph is taken from the top of the headstock which appears disproportionately large in the foreground. Printed at the top of the headstock is arched text that reads [Gold Tone] with a graphic of a five pointed star below. The background of the photograph is bright white. 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
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
pigment prints
portraits
Topic
Actors
Blues (Music)
Film
Instrumentalists (Musicians)
Photography
Singers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon
Object number
2021.33.55
Restrictions & Rights
© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e7373d75-04e9-4a4e-acd6-7e97c75a4dce

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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