Berenice Abbott

2 photographs, comprising ‘Civic Repertory Theater’ and ‘Grand Opera House,’ the first numbered ‘138’ in the negative, each with the photographer’s ’50 Commerce St.’ studio, Federal Art Project ‘Changing New York,’ or caption stamps and with title, date, and annotations in ink on the reverse, 1936 and 1937 (2)

Bonnie Yochelson, ed., Berenice Abbott: Changing New York, The Museum of the City of New York, 1997, Middle West Side, pl. 2 and 6

'Civic Repertory Theater' - This early print, on lightly-textured double-weight paper with a faint surface sheen, is in generally very good condition. The print is numbered ‘138’ in the negative. Upon very close examination, two isolated areas of faint rust-colored soiling are visible in the central and upper portion of the image. As is characteristically seen in Abbott's 'Changing New York' prints from the period, there are small clamp impressions in the black margins from processing. The margin corners are bumped and there is occasional edge chipping. The reverse of the print is appropriately age-darkened. It is annotated 'Civic Repertory Theater / 14th Street West of 6th Avenue Manhattan / Neg #138 Code III D-I / July 2, 1936.' 'Grand Opera House' - This pleasingly warm-toned early print, on smooth double-weigh paper with a faint surface sheen, is in generally very good to excellent condition. The print's white margins appear to have age-darkened and yellowed. The reverse of the print is appropriately age-darkened at the edges. The caption stamp is annotated: Title 'Grand Opera House'; Place 'Northeast corner, 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue, Manhattan'; Date 'Sept 3, 1937'; Neg # '148A'; and Code 'IA1.'
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