Artwork
On the Embankment
On the Embankment is a photographic photography by Alvin Langdon Coburn. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The photo was taken in 1909, showing how old statues were displayed in parks or public spaces back then.
This photo shows a stone statue of a head sitting on a pedestal with steps leading up to it. Behind the statue, there’s a bare tree and a blurry view of buildings in the distance. The lighting is soft, making the statue’s face look calm and smooth.
The photo was taken in 1909, showing how old statues were displayed in parks or public spaces back then. The lighting and shadows give the scene a quiet, almost timeless feel.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more photos like this.
Overview
On the Embankment is a 1909 sepia photomechanical print depicting a stone statue of a head atop a stepped pedestal, set against a backdrop of a bare tree and distant, blurred buildings.
Subject & Meaning
The statue, resembling a sphinx due to its singular head on a pedestal, conveys a sense of calmness enhanced by the soft lighting, which also imbues the scene with a timeless quality.
Technique & Style
The photomechanical print process used here produces a characteristic sepia tone, while the soft lighting and blurred background contribute to a serene, almost contemplative atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Originally part of an album containing nineteen photogravures and letterpress text, bound on grey-green pages, the work's current location is not specified in the provided information.
Context
The photograph reflects early 20th-century practices of displaying antiquities in public spaces, such as parks, highlighting a blend of natural and man-made elements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alvin Langdon Coburn kept a tiny camera in every coat pocket, snapping odd angles of London’s streets while pretending to window-shop.
The British Lion
London: A Sphinx
A Sphinx, The Embankment, London
Bust of Dionysus, Platon
'Stele with Buddhist triad', China, 581-618 or later, 'Bodhisattva', Japan, 'Bowl', (origins unknown), 'Figure of Avalokiteshvara', Japanese, after statue in Horyuji Temple, early 20th century, 'Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Kannon)', Japan, late 8th century, from the Charles Lang Freer Collection
After Meryon - Le Stryge
'Jar', Raqqa, Syria, 11th-12th century, 'Head and Bust (fragment) of a man', Egypt, ca. 1980-1630 BCE, face later recarved, from the Charles Lang Freer Collection
'Figure of Anubis', Egypt, 664-525 BCE, 'Resting', ca 1870-1873 by James McNeil Whistler and 'Figurine of the Goddess Neith', 664-525 BCE or later, from the Charles Lang Freer Collection
