[Student on a Roof Ledge, Moscow]

Alexander Rodchenko Russian

Not on view

A founder of Russian Constructivism, Rodchenko embraced photography as a tool to revolutionize perception, using diagonal and unexpected vantage points to surprise the viewer into discovering the world anew. Here, he trains his lens on a student perched at the edge of a Moscow roof. If the steeply angled view aligns the work with Rodchenko’s revolutionary aesthetic, the focus on the man’s youthful body speaks to the burgeoning Soviet interest in athleticism and physical prowess. Throughout the 1930s, Rodchenko photographed gymnasts, rooftop sunbathers, and mass-sporting events.

[Student on a Roof Ledge, Moscow], Alexander Rodchenko (Russian, St. Petersburg 1891–1956 Moscow), Gelatin silver print

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.