Photograph by
Morgan, Barbara, American, 1900 - 1992
Subject of
Primus, Pearl, Trinidadian, 1919 - 1994
Date
1944
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (image): 10 3/8 × 13 1/2 in. (26.4 × 34.3 cm)
H x W (mat): 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
Description
A black-and-white gelatin silver photograph titled “Pearl Primus, Speak to Me of Rivers” by Barbara Morgan. The photograph captures Pearl Primus, a modern dancer, in motion while performing Langston Hughes’s poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” at the Belasco Theatre, New York City in October 1944.
The performance is on a flat surface and before a wall darkened by shadows. Primus is crouched low, facing away from the viewer, toward the wall. Her arms are extended diagonally, with her proper right arm low and towards the back and her proper left arm high and towards the camera. Her proper left hand is stretched to show her palm. Primus is wearing either a full length garment or long flowy skirt and her flexed left foot is peeking out the bottom of the garment. The lights create two shadows of Primus against the wall.
The front of the photograph is signed by the photographer in pencil on the lower right corner of the mount [Barbara Morgan 1944]. On the back, the photographer and title are written in pencil in the upper left corner "Barbara Morgan, Pearl Primus, Speak to the River." At the bottom center is a sticker for the Barbara Morgan Dance Portfolio.
Place captured
Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
Topic
Modern dance
Photography
Poetry
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Estate of Carroll Parrott Blue
Object number
2023.39.33.1
Restrictions & Rights
© Barbara Morgan
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55dd5be7c-5343-4011-88cf-10a13fc2569f

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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