[Atomic Bomb Explosion]

1946–52
Not on view
World War II was the most expensive and destructive war of all time, not only because of the extensive use of airplanes and guided missiles but also because of the introduction of nuclear warfare, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Japan. Wartime photography also changed, largely due to Edgerton's invention of the stroboscopic, or electronic, flash, which allowed nighttime tracking of German troops. Edgerton received the Medal of Freedom for his efforts.
Working for the Atomic Energy Commission in 1947, Edgerton's company developed a complicated system of mirrors, telescopes, relay lenses, and shutters in order to capture the first microseconds of an atomic bomb explosion during post-war testing. Not a war photograph in the strict sense of the term, Edgerton's stop-motion image is nevertheless a terrifying symbol of the legacy of that war.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: [Atomic Bomb Explosion]
  • Artist: Harold Edgerton (American, 1903–1990)
  • Date: 1946–52
  • Medium: Gelatin silver print
  • Dimensions: 22.9 x 29.1 cm (9 x 11 7/16 in.)
  • Classification: Photographs
  • Credit Line: Gift of The Harold and Esther Edgerton Family Foundation, 1997
  • Object Number: 1997.62.39
  • Rights and Reproduction: © MIT, Harold Edgerton, 2014, courtesy of Palm Press, Inc.
  • Curatorial Department: Photographs

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.