Blush background with a gentlemen's shoe in the center.

Exhibition

The Real Thing: Unpackaging Product Photography

March 11–August 4, 2024

Previously on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 852

Free with Museum admission

All exhibitions

Overview Exhibition Objects

Four Roses Whiskey: Worth Reaching For, Anton Bruehl American, born Australia, Photomechanical print — Four Roses Whiskey: Worth Reaching For
Anton Bruehl
1949

[Panama Hats, from a Sloan-Force Co. Catalogue], F. D. Hampson American, Gelatin silver print — [Panama Hats, from a Sloan-Force Co. Catalogue]
F. D. Hampson
ca. 1916

[Satinettes, Filled Confections and Ye Old Style Stick Candy, from a Brandle & Smith Co. Catalogue], Schadde Brothers American, Gelatin silver print — [Satinettes, Filled Confections and Ye Old Style Stick Candy, from a Brandle & Smith Co. Catalogue]
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1915

[High Grade Jelly Eggs, from a Brandle & Smith Co. Catalogue], Schadde Brothers American, Gelatin silver print — [High Grade Jelly Eggs, from a Brandle & Smith Co. Catalogue]
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1915

[Soap Packaging], Ralph Bartholomew Jr. American, Carbro print — [Soap Packaging]
Ralph Bartholomew Jr.
1936

Articles of Glass, William Henry Fox Talbot British, Salted paper print from paper negative — Articles of Glass
William Henry Fox Talbot
before June 1844

[Plaster Casts of Bishops' Miters, South Porch, Chartres], Charles Nègre French, Salted paper print from paper negative — [Plaster Casts of Bishops' Miters, South Porch, Chartres]
Charles Nègre
ca. 1855

[Pitcher and two glasses, Venetian, 15th Century], Ludwig Belitski German, Salted paper print from glass negative — [Pitcher and two glasses, Venetian, 15th Century]
Ludwig Belitski
Baron Alexander von Minutoli
1854

The Silver Merchants, Unknown, Daguerreotype — The Silver Merchants
Unknown
Hiram Studley
ca. 1850

[Man Demonstrating Patent Model for Sash Window], Unknown, Tintype with applied color — [Man Demonstrating Patent Model for Sash Window]
Unknown
late 1850s–60s

[E. Adkins Gun Merchant], Unknown, Ambrotype — [E. Adkins Gun Merchant]
Unknown
ca. 1874

[Display of Hats and Accessories of 1868], Pine & Bell American, Albumen silver print from glass negative — [Display of Hats and Accessories of 1868]
Multiple artists/makers
1868

[Display of Dr. Robinson’s Balm of Tulips], A. H. Dinsmore American, Albumen silver print — [Display of Dr. Robinson’s Balm of Tulips]
A. H. Dinsmore
ca. 1890

Fashions 1837-1887, William Charles Brown British, Woodburytypes — Fashions 1837-1887
William Charles Brown
1888

[Vermont Marble Tombstone Catalogue], Unknown, Albumen silver prints — [Vermont Marble Tombstone Catalogue]
Unknown
1880s

[Rock Island Stove Company Catalogue], Unknown, Albumen silver print — [Rock Island Stove Company Catalogue]
Unknown
A. M. Blakesley
1878–83

[Display of Whitby Seascape Photographs], Frank M. Sutcliffe British, Albumen silver print — [Display of Whitby Seascape Photographs]
Frank M. Sutcliffe
ca. 1888

[Ledgers and Time Books from a National Blank Book Co. Catalogue], Stadler Photographing Company American, Gelatin silver print with applied color — [Ledgers and Time Books from a National Blank Book Co. Catalogue]
Stadler Photographing Company
ca. 1913

RCA Speakers, Margaret Bourke-White American, Gelatin silver print — RCA Speakers
Margaret Bourke-White
1933, printed ca. 1940

[KPM Ceramics], Grit Kallin-Fischer German, Gelatin silver print — [KPM Ceramics]
Grit Kallin-Fischer
1930

[Diring Radial Shaft Seals], Adolf Lazi German, Gelatin silver print — [Diring Radial Shaft Seals]
Adolf Lazi
1930s, printed 1939

[Gühring Drill Bits], Adolf Lazi German, Gelatin silver print — [Gühring Drill Bits]
Adolf Lazi
1935

[His Master's Voice Gramophones], John Havinden British, Gelatin silver print — [His Master's Voice Gramophones]
John Havinden
ca. 1932

"Advertising Photograph," in a Course Catalogue for The Clarence H. White School of Photography, Robert Waida Japanese, Halftone — "Advertising Photograph," in a Course Catalogue for The Clarence H. White School of Photography
Robert Waida
1933

"Lester Kahn," in 'My Best Photograph and Why', Lester Kahn American — "Lester Kahn," in 'My Best Photograph and Why'
Multiple artists/makers
1937

[Blue Band Margarine], Piet Zwart Dutch, Gelatin silver print — [Blue Band Margarine]
Piet Zwart
1930

Zig-Zag Cigarette Papers, Aram Alban Armenian, Gelatin silver print — Zig-Zag Cigarette Papers
Aram Alban
1929 or later

[Pocket Comb], H. Raymond Ball American, Gelatin silver print — [Pocket Comb]
H. Raymond Ball
1930s

[Osram Light Bulbs], August Sander German, Gelatin silver print — [Osram Light Bulbs]
August Sander
ca. 1930

[Osram Light Bulbs], Aurel Bauh Romanian, Gelatin silver print — [Osram Light Bulbs]
Aurel Bauh
1930s

Toilet Paper, Sherril Schell American, Gelatin silver print — Toilet Paper
Sherril Schell
1930s

["Sugar Lumps" Pattern Design for Stehli Silks], Edward J. Steichen American, born Luxembourg, Gelatin silver print — ["Sugar Lumps" Pattern Design for Stehli Silks]
Edward J. Steichen
1927

"Americana Prints: Sugar Lumps" Textile, Edward J. Steichen American, born Luxembourg, Printed silk — "Americana Prints: Sugar Lumps" Textile
Edward J. Steichen
Stehli Silks Corporation
1926 (Series II, released spring 1927)

Ide Collar, Paul Outerbridge Jr. American, Platinum print — Ide Collar
Paul Outerbridge Jr.
1922

[Violin], Stella F. Simon American, Platinum print — [Violin]
Stella F. Simon
ca. 1930

[AEG Turbine], Unknown, Cyanotype — [AEG Turbine]
Unknown
ca. 1910

[Automotive Component], Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. American, Gelatin silver print — [Automotive Component]
Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co.
May 21, 1928

[Automotive Component], Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. American, Gelatin silver print — [Automotive Component]
Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co.
October 7, 1925

[Automotive Components], Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. American, Gelatin silver print — [Automotive Components]
Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co.
February 22, 1927

[Automotive Components], Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. American, Gelatin silver print — [Automotive Components]
Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co.
May 2, 1927

Nothing Rolls Like a Ball, Frederick M. Bush American, Gelatin silver print — Nothing Rolls Like a Ball
Frederick M. Bush
ca. 1925

[A.S. Beck "Executive" Shoe], Murray Duitz American, Gelatin silver print — [A.S. Beck "Executive" Shoe]
Murray Duitz
1957

[Tear Sheet with Advertisement for Beck Shoes], Murray Duitz American, Halftone — [Tear Sheet with Advertisement for Beck Shoes]
Murray Duitz
1957

Fay Sturtevant Lincoln American, Gelatin silver print — [Pass & Seymour Switch Plate]
Fay Sturtevant Lincoln
ca. 1949

[Wig], James Van Der Zee American, Gelatin silver print — [Wig]
James Van Der Zee
1940s

[Wig], James Van Der Zee American, Gelatin silver print — [Wig]
James Van Der Zee
1940s

[Ruthsspiecher Tanks], César Domela Dutch, Gelatin silver print — [Ruthsspiecher Tanks]
César Domela
1928

[Montage for Packard Super Eight], Unknown, Gelatin silver print — [Montage for Packard Super Eight]
Unknown
ca. 1940

Designed for Comfort: Standard Cars, John Havinden British, Carbro print — Designed for Comfort: Standard Cars
John Havinden
late 1930s

NKF: N.V. Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek Delft, Piet Zwart Dutch, Letterpress — NKF: N.V. Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek Delft
Piet Zwart
1928

Imre Révész

Irma Biró

ca. 1931

Fork, André Kertész American, born Hungary, Gelatin silver print — Fork
André Kertész
1928

[Ipana Toothpaste], Grancel Fitz American, Gelatin silver print — [Ipana Toothpaste]
Grancel Fitz
ca. 1937

Nuit de Noël Perfume, H. Raymond Ball American, Gelatin silver print — Nuit de Noël Perfume
H. Raymond Ball
1926–1927

Pattern No. 342, Paul Outerbridge Jr. American, Gelatin silver print — Pattern No. 342
Paul Outerbridge Jr.
ca. 1931

Komol, ringl + pit German, Gelatin silver print — Komol
Multiple artists/makers
1931

Dents, ringl + pit German, Gelatin silver print — Dents
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1934

[Lipstick], Imre Révész American, born Hungary, Transparency — [Lipstick]
Imre Révész
Irma Biró
1940s

Theatre Accident, New York, Irving Penn American, Dye transfer print — Theatre Accident, New York
Irving Penn
1947, printed 1984

[Conference Calling, Bell Telephone Systems], Grancel Fitz American, Gelatin silver print — [Conference Calling, Bell Telephone Systems]
Grancel Fitz
1934

The Coffee Drinkers, Paul Outerbridge Jr. American, Carbro print — The Coffee Drinkers
Paul Outerbridge Jr.
1940

[Oldsmobile F-35 with Models], James N. Doolittle American, Carbro print — [Oldsmobile F-35 with Models]
James N. Doolittle
1935