Weaver and Pianist, Ashland Kentucky

Weaver and Pianist, Ashland Kentucky

Doris Ulmann, about 1928–1934

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Artist: Doris Ulmann (American, 1882–1934)
Medium: Platinum print
Size: Image: 20.1 × 15.2 cm (7 15/16 × 6 in.)
Culture: American
Museum: J. Paul Getty Museum
Rights: CC0 — no rights reserved

Doris Ulmann may have photographed this woman in 1928 on the first of her seven trips to the South with John Jacob (“Jack”) Niles (1892-1980). On that trip they spent a good deal of time in Kentucky, where he met with musicians and folklorists, including Jean Thomas (1882-1982) (95.XM.26) and the fiddler James William ("Blind Bill") Day (1861-1942). The pianist pictured here, was, according to Niles's notes, related by marriage to Day and his wife, Rosie Day (1877-1958), whom Ulmann also photographed (87.XM.89.79). This woman was also pictured with her instrument—the piano—although here Ulmann was apparently more interested in the polka-dot dress that defines her shape (87.XM.89.68).

Adapted from Judith Keller. Doris Ulmann, In Focus: Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 1996), 92. ©1996, J. Paul Getty Trust.

Text: J. Paul Getty Trust, CC BY 4.0.

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Doris Ulmann, 1929–1930, printed 1933

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Doris Ulmann, 1927–1934

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Doris Ulmann, 1930–1934

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Doris Ulmann, about 1932–1934

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Doris Ulmann, 1929–1930, printed 1933

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Visually similar

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