Grandchildren of Ella Watson, Government Charwoman, Washington, D.C.
Gordon Parks, Grandchildren of Ella Watson, Government Charwoman, Washington, D.C., 1942 (negative); printed later, gelatin silver print, Gift of Paul Dahlquist, public domain, 1995.44.7
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
Grandchildren of Ella Watson, Government Charwoman, Washington, D.C.
- Related Titles
display title: Grandchildren of Ella Watson, Government Charwoman, Washington, D.C., 1942
- Artist
- Date
1942 (negative); printed later
- Medium
gelatin silver print
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
image: 19 3/8 in x 15 1/2 in; sheet: 19 7/8 in x 15 15/16 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
inscription: 13426, verso top right
inscription: LC-VSF 34TO1 Gordon Parks, verso top center
inscription: 213686, graphite, verso top left
stamp: Reproduced from the collections of the Library of Congress, blue ink, verso upper center
- Collection Area
Photography
- Category
Photographs
- Object Type
photograph
- Culture
American
- Credit Line
Gift of Paul Dahlquist
- Accession Number
1995.44.7
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
Before becoming Life magazine’s first African American staff photographer in 1948, Gordon Parks worked for the Historical Section of the Farm Security Administration, which documented the struggles of Depression-era Americans. In 1942, Parks photographed Ella Watson, who cleaned the Farm Security Administration office building in Washington, D.C. This interaction resulted in the iconic photograph known today as American Gothic, in which Watson is depicted standing in front of an American flag holding a mop in one hand and a broom in the other. Parks also visited Watson’s residence, a small apartment she shared with her adopted daughter and three grandchildren, two of whom are depicted in this portrait. The children lean upon and cherish a Caucasian doll, calling attention to the poignant imaginary world of youngsters growing up in the midst of racial discrimination and poverty.
- Exhibitions
2010 Likeness: Portraiture from the Photography Collection Portland Art Museum
2014 Blue Sky: The Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts at 40 Portland Art Museum