Jack Delano

Data on Freight Cars of 42 American Railroads

1943

Scroll

Jack Delano

Data on Freight Cars of 42 American Railroads

Jack Delano

Data on Freight Cars of 42 American Railroads

1943

Physical Qualities Gelatin silver print (photomontage), Sheet: 261 x 203 mm. (10 1/4 x 8 in.) Image: 246 x 176 mm. (9 11/16 x 6 15/16 in.)

Credit Line Chessie Systems Railroad Funds

Object Number 1986.129

In the early 1940s, Jack Delano took hundreds of photographs (in black and white and color) of trains, conductors, stations, passengers, and tracks throughout the United States, but especially in the Midwest. To create this work, Delano pasted forty-two photographs of the sides of freight cars—including the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at lower right—onto a sheet with a numbering system below and then photographed it again.

Rena Hoisington, BMA, "Looking through the Lens: Photography 1900-1960," 16 March - 8 June 2008.

Inscribed: Verso: at upper center, in graphite: "Jack Delano"

Markings: Verso: at left center, stamped in black ink: "PLEASE NOTE: Kindly Return Unused Photos / to the Division of Photography / Office of War Information, / Washington, D. C."; at lower right, stamped in black ink: "PLEASE CREDIT / O. W. I. / OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION PHOTO BY DELANO"