Front / Recto

  • Title Fork
  • Negative Date 1928
  • Print Date 1928–30
  • Medium Gelatin silver print
  • Dimensions Image 2 3/4 x 3 5/8" (7 x 9.2 cm)
  • Place Taken Paris
  • Credit Line Thomas Walther Collection. Grace M. Mayer Fund
  • MoMA Accession Number 1730.2001
  • Copyright © Estate of André Kertész

Back / Verso

  • Mount Type No mount
  • Marks and Inscriptions Signed in pencil on sheet verso, center: A Kertész/1928. Stamped in blue ink on mount verso, bottom center: Galerie Wilde Köln.
  • Provenance The artist, New York [1]; purchased by Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto [2]; purchased by Thomas Walther, May 1979 [3]; purchased by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2001.
    [1] Thomas Walther, conversation with Simon Bieling, Berlin, January 2006; and Jane Corkin, telephone conversation with Maria Morris Hambourg, November 2013.
    [2] Walther, telephone conversation with Bieling, June 22, 2004; Jürgen Wilde, letter to Bieling, May 12, 2005; and Corkin, telephone conversation with Hambourg.
    [3] Corkin, telephone conversation with Hambourg; and Jane Corkin Gallery invoice no. 58, May 5, 1979.

Surface

  • Retouch Detail
    Detail showing aqueous retouching applied with a brush. The area of detail is 10.5 x 16 mm. Department of Conservation, MoMA
  • Surface Sheen Semireflective
  • Techniques Retouching (additive)
    Contact print
    Retouching in negative
  • PTM
    View of the recto of the artwork made using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) software, which exaggerates subtle surface details and renders the features of the artwork plainly visible. Department of Conservation, MoMA
  • Micro-raking
    Raking-light close-up image, as shot. Area of detail is 6.7 x 6.7 mm. Department of Conservation, MoMA
    Raking-light close-up image, processed. Processing included removal of color, equalization of the histogram, and sharpening, all designed to enhance visual comparison. Department of Conservation, MoMA

Paper Material

  • Format Unknown
  • Weight Single weight
  • Thickness (mm) 0.18
  • UV Fluorescence Recto negative
    Verso negative
  • Fiber Analysis Softwood bleached sulfite 40%
    Rag 45%
    Bast 11%
    Grass 4%
  • Material Techniques Developing-out paper
  • XRF

    This work was determined to be a gelatin silver print via X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry.

    The following elements have been positively identified in the work, through XRF readings taken from its recto and verso (or from the mount, where the verso was not accessible):

    • Recto: P, S, Cl, Ca, Zn, Sr, Ag, Ba, Pb
    • Verso: Al, Si, P, S, Ca, Fe, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb

    The graphs below show XRF spectra for three areas on the print: two of the recto—from areas of maximum and minimum image density (Dmax and Dmin)—and one of the verso or mount. The background spectrum represents the contribution of the XRF instrument itself. The first graph shows elements identified through the presence of their characteristic peaks in the lower energy range (0 to 8 keV). The second graph shows elements identified through the presence of their characteristic peaks in the higher energy range (8 to 40 keV).

    Areas examined: Recto (Dmax: black; Dmin: green), Verso or Mount (blue), Background (red)
    Elements identified: Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ca, Ag, Ba
    Areas examined: Recto (Dmax: black; Dmin: green), Verso or Mount (blue), Background (red)
    Elements identified: Fe, Zn, Sr, Ag, Pb

In Context

Historical Publications

  • Lotz, Dr. Wilhelm. “Film und Foto.” Die Form 4, no. 11 (June 1, 1929): 279 (as untitled photograph).

    “Eine neue Künstler-Gilde: Der Fotograf erobert Neuland.” Uhu 6, no. 1 (October 1929): 36 (as Die Gabel).

    Die Dame 4 (November 1929): 72 (as untitled photograph in advertisement for Bruckmann-Bestecke).

    Bost, Pierre Bost, Photographies modernes, p. 2. Paris: Chelles, 1930.

    Photographie, p. 85. Paris: Arts et Métiers Graphiques, 1930.

Historical Exhibitions

  • Rotterdam. Internationale Foto-Salon. 1928.

    Théâtre de la Comédie des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Salon de L'Escalier, Salon Indépendant de la Photographie. 1928.

    Museum Folkwang, Essen. Internationale Ausstellung Fotografie der Gegenwart. Organized by Kurt-Wilhelm Kästner. January 20–February 17, 1929. (traveling exhibition)

    Städtische Ausstellungshallen, Stuttgart. Internationale Ausstellung des Deutschen Werkbunds Film und Foto (Fifo). Organized by Deutscher Werkbund. May 18–July 7, 1929. (traveling exhibition)

    PM Gallery, New York. Andre Kertesz, an Exhibition of 60 Photographs. December 1937.

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