Untitled (Snowflake)
Artist
Wilson A. Bentley
(American, 1865-1931)
CultureAmerican
Dateca. 1920
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsOverall, Image: 2 15/16 × 3 3/8 in. (7.5 × 8.6 cm)
Overall, Support: 7 7/8 × 7 15/16 in. (20 × 20.2 cm)
Overall, Mat: 18 × 14 in. (45.7 × 35.6 cm)
Overall, Support: 7 7/8 × 7 15/16 in. (20 × 20.2 cm)
Overall, Mat: 18 × 14 in. (45.7 × 35.6 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase, in memory of Alice R. and Sol B. Frank
Object number2006.3
Not on view
DescriptionThis is a unmounted vintage gelatin silver print of a snowflake up close.Label TextWilson A. Bentley American (1865-1931) Untitled Snowflake, ca. 1920 Gelatin-silver print Museum purchase, in memory of Alice R. and Sol B. Frank 2006.3 In the small rural town of Jericho, Vermont, Bentley, made the first photograph of a single snow crystal in 1885. He went on to photograph more than 5000 snowflakes establishing the well-known adage that "no two snowflakes are alike." Because of his astonishing work with snow crystals, he became affectionately known as "Snowflake" Bentley." His snow crystal photomicrographs were acquired by colleges and universities throughout the world and published in magazines and journals including, Scientific American and National Geographic. In 1931 his book Snow Crystals, containing more than 2400 snowflake images, was published. Although Bentley's photography has long been appreciated for scientific and general entertainment purposes his work is now being collected by art museums. This is comparable to the transition that other photographic works, initially created for scientific purposes, have made to the status of being considered collectable works of art: the work of Eadweard Muybridge and Harold Edgerton being the best-known examples. Edited By: CW Edited Date: 2007 Approved By: ERL Approval Date: 2007ProvenanceThe Hasted Hunt Gallery; Chrysler Museum of Art, Museum Purchase in memory of Alice R. and Sol B. Frank, 2006. Exhibition History"The World of Photography," Alice R. and Frank B. Sol Photography Galleries, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, June 20, 2007 - May 25, 2008 Published ReferencesWilson A. Bentley, "Photographing Snowfakes," _ Popular Mechanics Magazine_ Vol. 37 (1922): 309-312. W. A. Bentley and W.J. Humphreys, _Snow Crystals_ (New York: Dover Publications, 1962) ISBN: 0486202879 Duncan Blanchard, _The Snowflake Man, A Biography of Wilson A. Bentley_ (Blacksburg, VA: McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, April 1998) ISBN: 0939923718 Wilson A. Bentley, _Snowflakes in Photographs_ (New York: Dove Publications, 2000) ISBN: 0486412539 W.M. Hunt, "Snowman: The Photographs of Wilson A. Bentley," _Aperture_ Issue no.182 (2006) 38-39
Arthur Rothstein
October 1935
