Scanned from a slide by Adam Pape. Color corrected by Pat Cagney.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Artist Benedict J. Fernandez (American, b. 1936)

CultureAmerican

DateApril 15, 1967

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsOverall, Image: 12 1/4 × 8 1/4 in. (31.1 × 21 cm)
Overall: 13 15/16 × 11 in. (35.4 × 27.9 cm)
Overall, Mat: 20 × 24 1/16 in. (50.8 × 61.1 cm)

Credit LineGift of Kodak and Michael S. Engl

Object number97.17.8

Not on view

DescriptionThis gelatin silver print depicts a close-up shot of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in thought. "While he was surrounded by the cowd before his speech at the United Nations on April 15, 1967, I dropped to my knees and caught Dr. King in a moment of deep thought. My determination in getting the photograph led to my eventual friendship with Dr. King and his family," Ben Fernande
z
Label TextDr. Martin Luther King, Jr., April 15, 1967 Gelatin silver print, ca. 1989 Gift of Kodak and Michael S. Engl 97.17.8 Ben Fernandez wrote about making this photograph: "While he was surrounded by the crowd before his speech at the United Nations on April 15, 1967, I dropped to my knees and caught Dr. King in a moment of deep thought. My determination in getting the photograph led to my eventual friendship with Dr. King and his family." Approval Date: 09/2008Exhibition History"Countdown to Eternity: Photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Ben Fernandez," Kaufman Theatre Lobby, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA., September 26, 2008 - March 1, 2009. "Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement, from the Museum Collection", THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART, NORFOLK, VA, February 6 - May 31, 1998. "Civil Rights Photography," Newseum, Arlington, Virginia, January 8 - April 30, 2001. "Silver Images: The Photography Collection at 25," Alice R. and Sol B. Frank Photo Galleries, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Va., November 5, 2003 - August 2004.