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Photograph of Billie Holiday

African American Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
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    Object Details

    Photograph by

    Leigh Wiener, American, 1929 - 1993

    Subject of

    Billie Holiday, American, 1915 - 1959

    Description

    A black and white photograph of Billie Holliday. She is wearing drop earrings and a necklace. She is in profile, facing towards her left with a cigarette pressed between her lips as she leans forward so it can be lit. On the left side of the photo, there is a pair of man's hands holding a book of matches prepared to light the cigarette. Part of the background appears to be painted in with dark paint. On the back of the photo are inscriptions providing the photographer, subject, location and date as well as a stamp for The Witkin Gallery.

    Credit Line

    Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Date

    1954

    Object number

    2013.118.201.2

    Restrictions & Rights

    © 7410 Inc, The Estate of Leigh Wiener
    Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

    Type

    gelatin silver prints

    Medium

    silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

    Dimensions

    H x W: 7 5/16 × 9 7/16 in. (18.5 × 24 cm)

    Place captured

    Berlin, Germany, Europe

    See more items in

    National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

    Collection title

    A Cinema Apart: The Larry Richards Collection of Early Black Film

    Classification

    Photographs and Still Images

    Data Source

    National Museum of African American History and Culture

    Topic

    African American
    Entertainers
    Jazz (Music)
    Singers (Musicians)

    Metadata Usage

    CC0

    Link to Original Record

    http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd549741dd1-9548-4242-ad2c-3cfc36519896

    Record ID

    nmaahc_2013.118.201.2

    Discover More

    Portrait of Billie Holiday

    Lady Day: Billie Holiday

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