Upon his arrival in New York City in 1927, the artist José Clemente Orozco wrote to his wife, “This incredible city, part amusement park and part growing monstrosity, has changed a great deal since I was last here [eight years ago].” Orozco’s assessment speaks to the exuberant cultural transformations of New York in the Jazz Age. Dealers and patrons began to support and promote communities of avant-garde artists active across the city. Artists, intellectuals, and activists established magazines as platforms for their work and ideas. Among them was Aaron Douglas, who wrote art criticism and provided illustrations for many publications associated with the Harlem Renaissance. For those who incorporated aspects of the urban landscape into their work, like Stuart Davis and John Storrs, the city was both magnet and muse.
Collection 1880s–1940s
509
New York City, 1920s
509
New York City, 1920s
New on view
Ongoing
MoMA

- MoMA, Floor 5, 509 The David Geffen Wing
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Stuart Davis Lucky Strike 1921
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Charles Demuth Vaudeville Musicians 1917
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Charles Demuth Vaudeville Dancers 1918
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Charles Demuth Female Acrobats 1919
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Preston Dickinson Harlem River before 1928
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Arthur Dove The Intellectual 1925
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Walker Evans 42nd Street 1929
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Oscar Micheaux Excerpt from "Ten Minutes to Live" 1932
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New on view Archibald John Motley Jr. Tongues (Holy Rollers) 1929
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Elie Nadelman Woman at the Piano c. 1917
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Georgia O'Keeffe Abstraction Blue 1927
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José Clemente Orozco The Subway 1928
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New on view Martin Puryear Cane 2000
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New on view Martin Puryear Esther from Cane 2000
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New on view Niles Spencer Near Washington Square c. 1928
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Florine Stettheimer Family Portrait, II 1933
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Alfred Stieglitz Equivalent 1923
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Alfred Stieglitz Equivalent 1925
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Alfred Stieglitz Equivalent 1929
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John Storrs Stone Panel with Black Marble Inlay 1920-21
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James Van Der Zee Baptism Celebration April 23, 1927
Artists
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Walker Evans
American, 1903–197569 exhibitions, 363 works online -
Alfred Stieglitz
American, 1864–194663 exhibitions, 111 works online -
Martin Puryear
American, born 194120 exhibitions, 35 works online -
Florine Stettheimer
American, 1871–194417 exhibitions, 57 works online -
John Storrs
American, 1885–19568 exhibitions, 4 works online - There are 15 artists in this collection gallery online.
Installation images
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