Leaves, Mills College Campus, Oakland, California

Print Notes

In 1933 Adams showed a selection of his photographs to the dean of the Art Department at Yale University. Adams wrote, “The dean was a most gracious and kindly person but had never seen my type of photographs. He was taken with ‘Leaves, Mills College Campus’ and asked, ‘Just what is this?’ I said, ‘It is a picture of foliage.’ ‘Yes, I understand that, but what is the subject?’ I said ‘What do you mean?’ He replied (just a bit testily), ‘What is the medium – is it an etching, a lithograph or a detailed painting?’ I said, ‘It’s a photograph!’ I was finally able to convince him that it was a direct photograph from nature. He became quite excited and arranged an exhibit of my work at Yale in 1934.”

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Description

Ansel Adams
1902-1984
c. 1931 | Printed 1960s
Gelatin silver print signed in ink on the front of the mount. Adams’ stamps and the title are on the back of the HI-Art mount board.
Image Size: 10 3/8 x 12 5/8 inches
Frame Size: 20 1/4 x 23 1/4 inches
Location: AAP ~ Unique ID 330

Condition Report

Excellent. Small indent left center noticeable only in raking light; mount has some minor stains from old tape and old matting.

Provenance

From Ansel Adams with the Witkin Gallery to a private East Coast collector to a private California dealer with the Weston Gallery.

Literature

An American Place: 1936 Exhibition/Adams: 400 Photographs pg. 64.