Russian Orthodox Church, Mt. Carmel, Pa.
| Artist | John Vachon (American, 1914–1975) |
|---|---|
| Title | Russian Orthodox Church, Mt. Carmel, Pa. |
| Date | December 1947 |
| Medium | Gelatin silver print |
| Dimensions | Image: 9 9/16 x 7 5/8 in. (24.3 x 19.4 cm) |
| Credit Line | Henry Holmes Smith Archive, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 79.200.XX.3.1 |
| This artwork is currently off display. You may be able to see this artwork by filling out an art viewing room request. | |
Originally hired by the Farm Security Adminstration as a clerk, John Vachon brought an amateur's naivete and freshness to his later role as a staff photographer at the agency and his later work for the Standard Oil, New Jersey, photographic project. He was said to have "photographed what pleased and astonished my eye, what I saw and wanted others to see." Raised as a devout Roman Catholic, Vachon had an innate interest in the country's religious structures. He photographed numerous churches throughout the country. His unique style was characterized by an interest in strong, geometric, architectural details (rather than social narrative) and a somber mood. In this image, the pruned limbs of the tree create a striking visual parallel ot the arms of the Russian cross.
| Publisher | Standard Oil Company, New Jersey |
|---|
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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"Russian Orthodox Church, Mt. Carmel, Pa. | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=79.200.XX.3.1