Tall Grass from the series History

David Levinthal, Tall Grass from the series History, 2011, inkjet print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Donald Standford Rosenfeld, Jr., 2017.41.11, © 2011, David Levinthal
Copied David Levinthal, Tall Grass from the series History, 2011, inkjet print, 17 × 22 in. (43.2 × 55.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Donald Standford Rosenfeld, Jr., 2017.41.11, © 2011, David Levinthal

Artwork Details

Title
Tall Grass from the series History
Date
2011
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
17 × 22 in. (43.2 × 55.9 cm)
Copyright
© 2011, David Levinthal
Credit Line
Gift of Donald Standford Rosenfeld, Jr.
Mediums Description
inkjet print
Classifications
Keywords
  • Landscape — time — night
  • Figure male — bust
  • Occupation — military — soldier
  • Dress — uniform — military uniform
  • State of being — evil — war
  • Object — weapon — gun
Object Number
2017.41.11

Artwork Description

An infantry soldier crouches in the grass as the helicopter that delivered him retreats skyward. With this photograph, Levinthal creates a nonspecific yet familiar scene from the Vietnam War. At the time of the conflict, print and television media brought images like this into American living rooms and the collective consciousness of the nation.