The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Chestnut Street, Louisville

1982

Nicholas Nixon

(American, 1947-)
America
gelatin silver print
Image: 19.5 x 24.6 cm (7 11/16 x 9 11/16 in.); Paper: 20.3 x 25.2 cm (8 x 9 15/16 in.); Matted: 40.6 x 50.8 cm (16 x 20 in.)
Gift of Museum members in 1989 1989.460
Location: Not on view

Description

In this photograph from his series of working class and impoverished Americans, Nicholas Nixon employs numerous vertical lines that separate space and provide stability to the composition. Standing in front of a scaly tree trunk, two brothers are linked together in what could be an embrace or restraining body lock. The younger boy's pleading eyes and lack of affectionate response seem to indicate that he is not a willing participant in the action. Details such as grime and worn clothing suggest that these are energetic boys who have been hard at play.
  • Hinson, Tom E. “Contemporary American Photographs: An Exhibition.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 79, no. 9 (November 1992): 306–351. Mentioned: p. 339, 351, no. 55 www.jstor.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art, Tom E Hinson. Catalogue of Photography. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1996. Reproduced: P. 256
  • Looking at Children: Photographs from the Permanent Collection. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 20-December 4, 2002).
    CMA, July 20 - December 4, 2002; "Looking at Children". No catalog
    CMA, Nov. 18, 1992 - Jan. 3, 1993: "Contemporary American Photographers," CMA Bulletin, 79 (Nov. 1992), p. 351, no. 55.
    CMA, Feb. 6 - April 15, 1990: "Year in Review 1989," CMA Bulletin, 77 (Feb. 1990), p. 72, no. 121 (not exhibited).
  • {{cite web|title=Chestnut Street, Louisville|url=false|author=Nicholas Nixon|year=1982|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1989.460