1938

Subway Portrait

American, 1903 - 1975

Though Evans generally preferred to use a large-format view camera, for his New York City subway pictures he selected a 35mm Contax. Its small frame was critical for his project, as he photographed his subjects surreptitiously, the camera almost entirely concealed by his topcoat and operated by a cable that tucked into his sleeve. Working contrary to the longstanding tradition of posed portraiture, Evans captured his subjects unguarded and unawares: engrossed in the newspaper, lost in thought, laughing, chatting, or watching fellow passengers.