The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 31, 2026

Black Couple Sitting Side by Side on a NYC Subway Car

c. 1960–2000

Sophie Rivera

(American, 1938–2021)
America
gelatin silver print
Image: 36.8 x 36.8 cm (14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.); Sheet: 50.6 x 40 cm (19 15/16 x 15 3/4 in.)
Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Whitehill Art Purchase Endowment Fund 2024.147
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Estimates suggest that in 1960, the subway was a primary mode of transportation for around 50% of New York City’s residents.

Description

Rivera was an avid street photographer. One of her favorite places to photograph people was in the New York City subway system, as in this portrait of two riders. There is a precedent for this in photographic history, including works by Walker Evans (1987.152) and Lou Stoumen (2018.378) in the museum’s collection. However, their subjects were unaware of being photographed, whereas Rivera here engaged with the sitters.
  • ?–2024
    Estate of Martin Hurwitz, Sophie Rivera Collection, sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    December 9, 2024–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Black Couple Sitting Side by Side on a NYC Subway Car|url=false|author=Sophie Rivera|year=c. 1960–2000|access-date=31 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2024.147