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Learning to Skate, Livonia Avenue, East New York, Brooklyn

Date

1949

Creator

N. Jay Jaffee
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

This remarkably tender photograph taken on the street reflects Jaffee's acute perception, his skill at capturing a powerful moment, and his gift for storytelling. When he noticed this girl skating haltingly forward, supported by her father, Jaffee artfully framed his image: the concrete sidewalk seams plot a recession into the distance, while on the right, diminishing vertical mullions between tall storefront windows reinforce the processional effect. The young girl teeters on the roller skates strapped on her shoes. The adjustable straps hang down in long tails, showing how small she is. Her father--larger, visually darker and stable--slowly steps forward, supporting her by lifting her waistband, which raises her slacks and exposes her socks and narrow ankles, accentuating her insecurity. The angle of his head suggests a meaningful glance at the girl, emphasized by a chevron of light pointing up from the pavement, even though his face is not visible. A dog can be seen in the gap between father and daughter, its feathery tail at the apex of the triangle. The girl seems to be distracted by the animal, reaching out toward it with her hidden right hand. The arms of father and daughter cross near the center of the photograph, suggesting a bond of reassurance and trust that seems also to be a visible symbol of affection. Another child beyond, perhaps an older brother, is confident enough on his skates to chat with friends. He and his friends are bundled up. The young girl wears a wool coat and a felt hat topped by a yarn bobble. It must be winter, and the girl may be trying out a holiday present. What appears to be a pair of knitted gloves lie on the sidewalk in front of her--another obstacle from which she must be protected. Jaffee often photographed people from the back, bringing the viewer into a scene with him. These images reveal how expressive posture can be, and the photographer's sensitivity to people and events.

from Acton, A History of Photography at the University of Notre Dame: Twentieth Century (Notre Dame, 2019)

Images

This is called Learning to Skate, Livonia Avenue, East New York, Brooklyn within the category of Photographs.Open in external viewer application
This is called Learning to Skate, Livonia Avenue, East New York, Brooklyn within the category of Photographs.
This is called Learning to Skate, Livonia Avenue, East New York, Brooklyn within the category of Photographs.

Metadata

Creator
N. Jay Jaffee (American, 1921 - 1999)
Date
1949
Classification
Photographs
Related Location
Brooklyn, North America, United States, New York, New York
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. James G. Niven
Copyright Status
Copyright
Copyright Statement
© The N. Jay Jaffee Trust, courtesy of Cyrisse Jaffee
Subject
Canis familiaris
daughters
fathers
roller skates
sidewalks
storefronts
winter

Metadata

Accession Number
1980.122.001.004
Campus Location
Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Access

Not on view, please request access

Metadata

Contact Us

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.


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