Collection Online as of March 27, 2023

Receiving the Flag: Jacqueline Kennedy, her face veiled, is handed the American flag that covered the casket of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, by Archbishop Philip Hannan when it was taken to Arlington National Cemetery. Here Hannan speaks to her

1964

Eddie Adams

(American, 1933–2004)

America, 20th century

Associated Press wire photo

Image: 22 x 18 cm (8 11/16 x 7 1/16 in.); Paper: 26.2 x 20.3 cm (10 5/16 x 8 in.)

Gift of George Stephanopoulos 2018.642

Location

230 Photography

Description

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the sight of the mourning First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy had a profound impact on US history. These two works show how the images of those moments moved between mass media and artistic practice. The wirephoto is evidence of the news photograph being multiplied and quickly circulated around the world to make halftone printing plates. Andy Warhol responded to this mass distribution through the doubling of Mrs. Kennedy’s likeness and the enlargement of the halftone pattern. Whether for visual communication or artistic expression, these images share the emotional charge of the tragedy.

Inscriptions

Inscription

Written in black ink in upper margin on recto: "D (circled) PG. 8 DIXIE 9-27"

Inscription

Imprinted in black type in lower margin on recto: "USE WITH KENNEDY ASSASSINATION STORIES MOVED IN ADVANCE FOR WEEK NOV. 18/(NY10-Nov. 12)--RECEIVING THE FLAG--Jacqueline Kennedy, (circled in blue ink) her face veiled,/is handed the American Flag (crossed out in red marker) that covered the casket of her husband,/President John F. Kennedy, when it was taken to Arlington National/Cemetery Nov. 25, 1963. (AP Wirephoto) (as-pk20019fls) 1973/See note on back (written in red marker) by (crossed out in red marker) Archbishop Phillip Hannan (written in blue ink)"

Inscription

Written in pencil on verso: "EA-USA-01"

Inscription

Stamped in red ink on verso: "NOV 13 1973"

Inscription

Written in pencil on verso: "17/4-1/2"

Inscription

Imprinted in black type on white adhesive label on verso: "According to the book "The Last Salute: Civil and/Military Funerals, 1921-1969" published by the/Department of the Army, John Metzler Sr./handed the folded flag to Mrs Kennedy. In this/photo Hannan is speaking to her."

Inscription

Imprinted in black type on white adhesive label on verso: "Scanned into SCC/Library: PHOTOS IN/PixID: 5767554"

Eddie Adams

American photographer, 1933-2004

Exhibition history

Photographs in Ink. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 20, 2022-April 2, 2023).