In defense of Western Civilization, an American soldier's hand rests on his gun in front of the Berlin Wall, Germany
August 1961
Leonard Freed
Leonard Freed (American, 1929–2006)
Photography
In defense of Western Civilization, an American soldier's hand rests on his gun in front of the Berlin Wall, Germany, August 1961. Leonard Freed (American, 1929–2006). Vintage gelatin silver print; image: 17.2 x 23.2 cm (6 3/4 x 9 1/8 in.); paper: 17.2 x 23.2 cm (6 3/4 x 9 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg 2016.292 © Leonard Freed /Magnum Photos
- Maker/Artist
- Freed, Leonard
- Classification
- Photograph
- Formatted Medium
- vintage gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image: 17.2 x 23.2 cm (6 3/4 x 9 1/8 in.); Paper: 17.2 x 23.2 cm (6 3/4 x 9 1/8 in.)
- Inscribed
- Inscription: Several adhesive labels located on the print obscure some of the inscriptions and stamps. Written in pencil on verso: “LFBWA-212.1/7500 pg 6” Written in pencil on verso: “pag 16 foto 2 24x/[illegible word]” Written in pencil on verso: “461/2% [circled and crossed out in black crayon]” Written in pencil on verso: “47212” Imprinted in black type on white adhesive label on verso: “[bar code] S00069683_d FRL 1965003 W00005/39 PAR148508/© Leonard Freed/Magnum Photos/RFA. The Berlin wall./West Germany. Berlin. 1965 [crossed out in pencil, 1961 written in pencil]. American soldier standing guard at border./The Berlin Wall was constructed by the East German government in August 1961 to halt the vast numbers of East Berliners defecting to the/West and to prevent East Berliners from commuting to jobs in West Berlin, thus depleting the supply of labor in the East. In the last 28 years,/5,000 East Germans failed in their attempts. Another 5,000 managed to cross the wall; 191 died in their attempts. Another 5,000 managed/to cross safely. On November 9, the East German government announced an end to travel restrictions and huge crowds of both East and/West Berliners began several days of celebrations on and around the Berlin Wall./No photograph or digital file may be reproduced, cropped or modified (digitally or otherwise) and its caption may not be altered without prior written/agreement from Magnum or a Magnum representative.” Written in pencil on verso: “History-Berlin Crisis ‘61” Written in black ink on white adhesive label on verso: “former/W. Germany” Imprinted in black type on white adhesive label on verso: “AA6947” Written in pencil on verso: “1961 Berlin-Germany/Book: Black in White America” Written in pencil on verso: “61146/39” Written in pencil on verso: “UNIQUE” Stamped in black ink on verso: “VINTAGE PRINT” Written in pencil on verso: “Leonard Freed (signed)” Imprinted in black type on white adhesive label on verso: “Consignment/#80532 jlm” Stamped in black ink on verso: “© Leonard Freed-Magnum” Imprinted in black type on white adhesive label on verso: “NOTICE/Photographs must be credited to the photographer and/MAGNUM PHOTOS. Photographs may not be cropped/or altered in any way without prior written approval by/MAGNUM PHOTOS. Photographs consigned by/MAGNUM PHOTOS for your possible use may not be/scanned without the express written permission of/MAGNUM PHOTOS./VIOLATION OF THESE POLICIES WILL RESULT IN/FINES AT A MINIMUM of 100% OF THE USAGE FEE.” Commercially imprinted throughout verso of paper: “Agfa”
- Departments
- Photography
- Accession Number
- 2016.292
- Credit Line
- Gift of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg
- Rights Statement
- Copyrighted undefined
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