Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific
2001
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image/sheet: 24.2 × 19 cm (9 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.) mount: 50.8 × 40.6 cm (20 × 16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of J. Patrick and Patricia A. Kennedy
Accession Number
2020.163.24
Art Historical Context
Mark Ruwedel's *Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul Pacific* (2001) is a striking gelatin silver print, a classic black-and-white photographic medium celebrated for its rich tonal gradations and tactile depth achieved through traditional darkroom chemistry. Measuring a intimate 24.2 × 19 cm on a larger 50.8 × 40.6 cm mount, this work invites close contemplation, evoking the meticulous craft of analog photography in an increasingly digital age. The title references the historic Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad—famously known as the Milwaukee Road—a vital artery of American transportati...
About the Artist
Mark Ruwedel
Mark Ruwedel, born on June 11, 1954, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, initially pursued painting, earning a BFA from Kutztown State College in 1978. He transitioned to photography during this time, later obtaining an MFA from Concordia University in Montreal in 1983. Working as a custom printer in Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1980 honed his technical skills before he relocated to Canada, where he taught a...