Untitled (51251)

1959

Brooklyn Gang: Untitled (51251), 1959. Bruce Davidson (American, b. 1933). Gelatin silver print; paper: 61 x 50.8 cm (24 x 20 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of an anonymous donor 2018.702 © Bruce Davidson/Magnum Photos One of the gang members—Bob Powers—suggested that Davidson follow him to a rooftop on the gang’s block. “I remember thinking,” said Davidson, “‘This kid’s going to throw me off the roof and then rob me,’ but he’s pointing down at the stickball game (an informal form of baseball played in the street) and saying, ‘Get that,’ and saying: ‘Oh, there’s the Statue of Liberty. You can see it through all these television antennas.’” One of Davidson’s best-known series, Brooklyn Gang was inspired by a news story he read about a teenage gang.