Gary, Indiana I

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Artist Saul Steinberg (American, 1914–1999)

Title Gary, Indiana I

Date 1953

Medium Black ink, crayon, and and graphite on paper

Dimensions Image: 14 3/8 x 23 1/4 in. (36.5 x 59.1 cm)
Sheet: 14 3/8 x 23 1/4 in. (36.5 x 59.1 cm)
Framed (Exhibition Frame): 25 1/8 x 31 1/8 x 1 in. (63.8 x 79.1 x 2.5 cm)

Credit Line Gift of The Saul Steinberg Foundation, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 2019.77

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About this Work

Steinberg’s depiction of Gary, Indiana—one of his many drawings of small-town America— shows the bustling nightlife of the town in the 1950s. In this city with close ties to the state’s steel industry, steel-mill workers would often visit the lively downtown after a long day of work to relax and unwind. Though Gary is less of a destination spot today, Steinberg’s drawing gives a glimpse into the vibrant life of the town seventy years ago. The architecture was already slightly dated with features such as the tall theater marquee and glass block window on the Venus club—relishing in what Steinberg sometimes called “the unattractive parts of town.”

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Gary, Indiana I | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2019.77