Young Tuxedo Brass Band, New Orleans, Louisiana
1959
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 21.8 x 32.9 cm (8 9/16 x 12 15/16 in.) sheet: 27.9 x 35.4 cm (11 x 13 15/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Accession Number
2001.22.411
Art Historical Context
In 1959, renowned American photographer Lee Friedlander captured the exuberant spirit of New Orleans' musical heritage in *Young Tuxedo Brass, New Orleans, Louisiana*. Friedlander, a master of street photography celebrated for his candid, multifaceted compositions, ventured into the city's vibrant jazz scene during a transformative era in American culture. This gelatin silver print—produced through a classic mid-20th-century process for its rich tonal gradations and sharp detail—freezes a moment of communal joy, likely from a lively second-line parade, where brass bands like the Young Tuxedo e...
About the Artist
Lee Friedlander
Lee Friedlander, born on July 14, 1934, in Aberdeen, Washington, to a Finnish-descended mother, Kaari Nurmi, and German-Jewish émigré father, Fritz Friedlander, discovered photography at age 14 amid a fascination with the medium's equipment. Tragedy marked his childhood when his mother died of cancer at age seven, yet he pursued his passion, earning pocket money with a camera before studying under...