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When I look at this picture I feel alone - Image 1
When I look at this picture I feel alone - Image 2

Jim Goldberg

When I look at this picture I feel alone

1979, printed 1984

When I look at this picture I feel alone — thumbnail 1
When I look at this picture I feel alone — thumbnail 2
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Jim Goldberg

When I look at this picture I feel alone

1979, printed 1984

Physical Qualities Gelatin silver print, Sheet: 355 x 278 mm. (14 x 10 15/16 in.)
Portfolio/Series from the series, "Rich and Poor"
Credit Line Gift of George H. Dalsheimer, Baltimore
Object Number 1998.185
Using his camera as a tool for social activism, Jim Goldberg has dedicated his career to documenting marginalized populations, including homeless teenagers, the elderly, and refugees. His inclusion of his subjects’ handwritten comments brought a novel element to the tradition of documentary photography. From 1977 to 1984, Goldberg photographed people from two groups in San Francisco: residents of a transient hotel and an art school’s trustees (and their family members). While the dramatic contrast in their environments illustrates the vast difference in the two groups’ financial means, the subjects’ expressions and highly personal confessions suggest a mutual feeling of loneliness. Goldberg’s 1975 book Rich and Poor compiled the resulting pictures. In the afterword to his book, Goldberg described himself as a “translator” and wrote of his hope that by sharing stories such as these, society could break down the myths that divide it.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1998; George H. Dalsheimer, Baltimore
Kristen Hileman, BMA. "Seeing now: Photography Since 1960," February 20-May 15, 2011.
Rich and Poor: Photographs by Jim Goldberg, New York: Random House, 1985, ill. section 1, 43rd unnumbered page

Inscribed: lower left verso in graphite: "103"; lower right verso in graphite: "Jim Goldberg 1979/84"; upper right verso in graphite: "JG.019,2"

Artist

Jim Goldberg

American, born 1953

Meet Jim Goldberg

Explore the Collection Further

Jim Goldberg
When I look at this picture I feel alone
1979, printed 1984
Honoré Daumier
My dear, since we won't have enough time to see everything in one day, you should look at the pictures on the right while I'll look at the ones on the left, and when we get home, we'll tell each other everything we saw.
1859
Célestin François Nanteuil
Couple Looking at a Picture
n.d.
Honoré Daumier
There's no doubt, Monsieur Riflot, the law of petition is sacred, but it is being abused. Look at the example we just discussed: they want to tax bachelors, since they are useless for society. I feel sorry for all the married people.... I must also say that I know of no-one who has done as much for society, as I, Coquelet did.
1839
Honoré Daumier
When one's portrait is exhibited at the Salon. - It's flattering, isn't it Eudoxie, to be shown like this in public, and I don't regret the 200 francs it has cost us... there is a man looking at us... he seems to think highly of us! - (The art student): How can anybody have the nerve to sit for a portrait with a face like that!
1845
Honoré Daumier
Porcelain Collectors. - Come on, Adelaide.... be reasonable... it's already one o'clock and time to go to bed! - Adolphe, leave me alone... I want to admire my oeuvre a bit longer... the candlelight makes it looks a hundred times more beautiful.
1855