The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of October 6, 2026

A vertically oriented black-and-white photograph depicts four pieces of fabric hanging from a horizontal line against a black background. Secured by clothespins, the material falls in long, tapered folds. Strong light from the left emphasizes crinkled textures and luminous vertical ridges. The lower portions and right side of the composition recede into deep shadow, leaving lit edges to appear as suspended shapes.

Congressional Gathering

1959

Louis H. Draper

(American, 1935–2002)
America
gelatin silver print
Image: 31.1 x 20.7 cm (12 1/4 x 8 1/8 in.); Paper: 35.4 x 27.6 cm (13 15/16 x 10 7/8 in.)
Alma Kroeger Fund 2017.106
© Louis H. Draper
Location: Not on view

Description

This metaphorical image, made early in Draper’s career, was taken two years after he moved from segregated Richmond, Virginia, to New York to study photography. He shows us one thing—bedsheets hanging on a clothesline, seemingly seen at night—while alluding to another, hoods at a Ku Klux Klan gathering.



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  • Louis Draper (the artist)
    estate of Louis Draper
    Steven Kasher Gallery, New York, NY
    September 11, 2017
    the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Recent Acquisitions. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 17-June 7, 2018).
    The Cleveland Museum of Art (03/17/2018-06/06/2018): "Recent Acquisitions 2014-2017"
  • {{cite web|title=Congressional Gathering|url=false|author=Louis H. Draper|year=1959|access-date=06 October 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2017.106