Robert Cumming

Floodlight, Painted Backdrop, Universal Studios, Calif., 1977

1977

A vintage black and white photograph featuring a close-up of an old-fashioned, large round industrial light with a visible filament bulb, mounted on a metal stand. In the blurred background, part of a building with the word "CONFECTIONERY" on its facade is partially visible.

A vintage black and white photograph featuring a close-up of an old-fashioned, large round industrial light with a visible filament bulb, mounted on a metal stand. In the blurred background, part of a building with the word "CONFECTIONERY" on its facade is partially visible.

Not on view

Date
1977

Classification
Photographs

Medium
Gelatin silver print

Dimensions
Sheet: 8 × 10 in. (20.3 × 25.4 cm) Image: 7 9/16 × 9 5/8 in. (19.2 × 24.4 cm)

Accession number
2001.409

Credit line
Gift of Jeanne and Richard S. Press

Rights and reproductions
© Robert Cumming / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

API
artworks/12508

Part of a series:
Studio Still Lifes Universal Studios, California 1977
50 works

A black and white photo of a man in a suit and sunglasses sitting on a windowsill, looking out over industrial buildings with a mountainous backdrop. The interior includes a curtain partially drawn and various items on the windowsill, including a camera.

A black and white photograph depicting a set of four metal folding chairs arranged on a concrete floor in front of a large backdrop with a printed image of a suburban backyard scene. The backdrop features a white picket fence, a house, and lush greenery. In the foreground, part of a dark structure is visible to the left, and a bottle sits on the ground near the chairs. The bottom of the image includes text that reads "Backyard flat, the 'Nancy Drew' series sets. -Stage #29 March 21, 1997," and there is a signature on the bottom right.

Black and white photograph depicting a staged outdoor scene with a wooden fence, laundry on a folding rack, and a backdrop showing a mountain landscape. The image includes text at the bottom indicating it's a backyard from a foreman's house in a feature film, dated February 8, 1977, with a signature on the bottom right.

A black and white photograph depicting a makeup table with a clear, upright, rectangular panel with light bulbs around it, set on a wheeled table. The table is positioned in a backstage area with various items in the background, including a covered table and a ladder. The image includes handwritten notes and a date at the bottom, indicating the context as a makeup table from the "Barretta" series on stage #42, dated April 18, 1977.

A black and white photo showing three men in a workshop with a large clay model of a killer whale. One man is seated in front of the model, while the other two stand behind it, one on a ladder. The model is on a stand and appears to be a work in progress. There is handwriting and typed text at the bottom providing details about the individuals and the purpose of the model, which is for a film titled "Jaws 2". The date indicated is April 1, 1977.

A black and white photograph showing an industrial setting with a large lattice structure in the foreground. To the right, there's a wooden wall with a metal box attached and a vent near the ground. The scene has a utilitarian appearance with shadows casting patterns on the lattice.

A black and white photograph showing a group of mannequins with exaggerated facial expressions and poses, suggesting panic or distress. They appear to be in a makeup lab, as indicated by the caption, and are possibly props for a feature film titled "Roller Coaster." The image is framed with a white border, and there is a handwritten signature at the bottom right corner.

Black and white photograph of a film set for the feature film "The Great Gatsby," showing a constructed street scene with a drugstore facade, various stage equipment, and crew members working in the background. The image includes scaffolding, lighting rigs, and a bicycle in the foreground, with a caption at the bottom indicating the location as Stage #12 and the date as June 1, 1977.

A black and white photograph depicting a woman sitting on a sofa, examining a miniature sewing machine from a collection displayed on a coffee table in front of her. The room is elegantly furnished with a cushioned sofa, framed artwork on the wall, and a mannequin with a dress in the background. The photo includes a caption at the bottom indicating the woman's name and the collection, as well as the location and date of the photograph.

A black-and-white photograph of a woman standing in a room with a collection of trophies displayed on a shelf. She is wearing a white coat over a dark outfit, large round sunglasses, and is holding a trophy. To her left is a mannequin torso on a pedestal, and to her right is another mannequin torso, both without heads or limbs. The room has a vintage feel with ornate wall sconces and a framed certificate on the wall.

Robert Cumming
90 works in the collection, 5 exhibitions

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