The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of October 19, 2026
Untitled (Self-Portrait with Money)
1959
Location: Not on view
Did You Know?
By day, Jimmy Baynes was a postal clerk; at night and on the weekends, he photographed aspects of Black life, music, and culture in Cleveland.Description
In this self-portrait, shot in his kitchen, Jimmy Baynes depicts himself as a successful entrepreneur, surrounded by some of the cash he earned as a photographer. He covered a wide range of community events from the music scene to fashion shows and political events. His images were used as publicity shots and published in local magazines and newspapers including the Call and Post.- Polaroid cameras and film provided a way to document moments “instantly,” or without having to wait for your film to be developed. The dimensions of the photograph align with Polaroid Land 4x5 Film. The tabs on the left side indicate that the film was manufactured before 1970. The code printed on the back (F93021) provides more information about the month and year of manufacture (“F” = June; “9” = either 1959 or 1969). The year can be narrowed down further with closer inspection of the image. A flyer from a November 1957 election is visible on the left side of the windowsill, likely making June 1959 the month and year of film manufacture. The remaining numbers are related to machine and shift work. The rise in accessible digital imaging capabilities contributed to the decline in popularity and usage of Polaroid.
- {{cite web|title=Untitled (Self-Portrait with Money)|url=false|author=Jimmy Baynes|year=1959|access-date=19 October 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.206