Robert Cumming

Backyard Flat, the "Nancy Drew" series sets-Stage #29

1977

Black and white photograph of a staged outdoor scene with four metal folding chairs in the foreground, set on a concrete floor. The background features a painted backdrop depicting a residential setting with a white picket fence, a house, and lush vegetation. The scene is labeled as a set for the "Nancy Drew" series, located on stage #29, and is dated March 21, 1977, with a signature at the bottom right.
Black and white photograph of a staged outdoor scene with four metal folding chairs in the foreground, set on a concrete floor. The background features a painted backdrop depicting a residential setting with a white picket fence, a house, and lush vegetation. The scene is labeled as a set for the "Nancy Drew" series, located on stage #29, and is dated March 21, 1977, with a signature at the bottom right.

Not on view

Date
1977

Classification
Photographs

Medium
Gelatin silver print

Dimensions
Sheet: 10 15/16 × 13 7/8in. (27.8 × 35.2 cm) Image: 7 3/4 × 9 3/4in. (19.7 × 24.8 cm)

Accession number
2006.116.22

Edition
9/25 | 3 APs

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Nancy and Ralph Segall

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

APIⓘ
artworks/25210

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

Black and white photograph of a staged outdoor scene with four metal folding chairs in the foreground, set on a concrete floor. The background features a painted backdrop depicting a residential setting with a white picket fence, a house, and lush vegetation. The scene is labeled as a set for the "Nancy Drew" series, located on stage #29, and is dated March 21, 1977, with a signature at the bottom right.
Black and white photograph depicting a behind-the-scenes view of a film set, with a mix of real and artificial elements. In the foreground, there's a cluttered yard with a wooden barrier, scattered leaves, and a piece of plywood on the ground. A laundry rack with a towel is positioned to the right. The background shows a large backdrop with a painted mountain landscape, revealing the artificial nature of the setting. The image includes text at the bottom indicating the location as a "cityard, foreman's house," from the feature film "Which Way Is Up?" and is dated "Feb. 8, 1977," with a signature that reads "B. Cummings."
A black and white photograph depicting a makeup table with a mirror surrounded by light bulbs, presumably from the "Barretti" series, situated on a stage. The table is cluttered with various items and there's a sign that reads "WET PAINT" on it. The background shows a partially visible draped table and a ladder, indicating a behind-the-scenes setting. The image includes handwritten text and a signature at the bottom, along with a date: April 18, 1977.
A black and white photo showing three men posing with a large clay model of a killer whale, which is a mock-up for the film "Jaws 2". One man is seated in front of the model, while the other two stand behind it. The model is supported by a metal frame and the photo includes a caption with the names of the men and the date, April 11, 1977, along with a signature in the bottom right corner.
A black and white photograph showing a collection of mannequin-like figures with exaggerated expressions and poses, suggesting distress or disaster. The figures are bald and appear to be in a make-up lab, as indicated by the caption, which also references the feature film "Roller Coaster." The photo is dated March 21, 1977, and signed by R. Cummings.
A black and white photograph depicting a woman sitting on a couch, examining a miniature sewing machine from a collection displayed on a coffee table in front of her. The setting appears to be a cozy room with a framed picture on the wall, a lamp, and other decor items. The photo includes captions indicating the subject as Edith Head and the location as her bungalow, dated May 5, 1977, with a signature at the bottom right.
Black and white photograph of the exterior of Erickson's apartment with a caption "A Matter of Inconvenience" and a date "April 25, 1972". The image shows a neatly stacked pile of firewood next to a porch with a snow-covered ground, a bench, and a part of a tree visible on the left. Shadows from the porch railing create patterns on the snowy surface.
A black and white photograph of a work desk with a miniature building model and surrounding landscape, rolls of paper, and architectural drawings. The image includes handwritten notes and a date at the bottom, suggesting an artistic or architectural project.
A black and white photograph of a model setup for the ocean floor, presumably used in the feature film "Jaws 2." The model includes a miniature boat on a simulated water surface, with various other elements that suggest an underwater scene. The photo is taken in a studio environment with tables, papers, and other materials visible in the background. The image is dated January 28, 1977, and includes a caption at the bottom.
Black and white photo of a scale model setup for the film "Jaws 2," showing a miniature ocean surface and ocean floor with labels such as "Shark," "Overturned catamarans and skiffs," and "Underwater boom and dolly rig." The model is in a studio environment with various equipment and a calendar on the wall, dated January 28, 1977.

Robert Cumming
90 works in the collection, 5 exhibitions

View artist

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

On the Hour projects can contain motion and sound. To respect your accessibility settings autoplay is disabled.