An officer once said to me that he always worried about his family at home. Who, he wondered, protected them while he worked nights? It made him diligent, New York City
1978
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 30.4 × 20.6 cm (11 15/16 × 8 1/8 in.) sheet: 35.3 × 28 cm (13 7/8 × 11 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Brigitte Freed
Accession Number
2017.166.34
Art Historical Context
In 1978, renowned documentary photographer Leonard Freed captured a poignant moment in *An officer once said to me he always worried about his family at home. Who, wondered, protected them while he worked nights? It made diligent, New York City Freed, a Magnum Photos member celebrated for his raw black-and-white images of urban life, social justice, and human vulnerability, turned his lens on New York City's police force during a turbulent era. The late 1970s saw the city grappling with crime waves and economic strife, making officers' personal sacrifices all the more resonant. The evocative ...
About the Artist
Leonard Freed
Leonard Freed (1929–2006) was born in Brooklyn, New York, to working-class Jewish parents of Eastern European descent. He initially aspired to be a painter, but discovered photography while travelling in the Netherlands and was swiftly captivated by its capacity for immediate, unmediated witness. Returning to the United States, he studied under Alexey Brodovitch at The New School in New York, abso...