Photograph by
Platon, British, born 1968
Subject of
Ali, Muhammad, American, 1942 - 2016
Date
2009; printed 2019
Medium
pigment on paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 20 15/16 × 20 in. (53.2 × 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 Muhammad Ali, by Platon. The photograph depicts Ali from the thighs up. He is facing the viewer with his head tilted slightly towards his proper right shoulder. His brow is furrowed and he has a serious expression on his face. His proper left fist is extended directly towards the viewer as if throwing a punch. The photograph was taken from near his fist which appears disproportionately large in the foreground. His proper right fist is held in a defensive position below his chin. He has a single metal ring with channel diamonds on the ring finger of his proper left hand and a ring with an inset solitaire diamond on the ring finger of his proper right hand. He is wearing a dark toned, paisley, button down shirt, black pants, and has an American flag draped over his shoulders and arms. 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
Activism
Athletes
Boxing
Photography
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Platon
Object number
2021.33.61
Restrictions & Rights
© Platon
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5e2097bdf-939c-40ad-863f-3609cd76aa01

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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