The image shows a street scene with uniform buildings along a dirt road. The horizon is high with the line of buildings leading to a vanishing point. The structures, likely wooden houses, line both sides of the road and recede into the distance. The photo has a monochromatic color palette with sepia tones. A group of people, including adults and children, are seen along the road, engaged in various activities or standing in groups. More individuals can be seen in the distance. The image conveys a sense of community within a structured environment.
Read the visual description

The image shows a street scene with uniform buildings along a dirt road. The horizon is high with the line of buildings leading to a vanishing point. The structures, likely wooden houses, line both sides of the road and recede into the distance. The photo has a monochromatic color palette with sepia tones. A group of people, including adults and children, are seen along the road, engaged in various activities or standing in groups. More individuals can be seen in the distance. The image conveys a sense of community within a structured environment.

National Gallery of Art · Photograph

"Freedman's Village"

Bell & Bro.

Date
c. 1865
Medium
stereoscopic albumen silver prints
Dimensions
image/sheet (each): 7.7 × 7.1 cm (3 1/16 × 2 13/16 in.) mount: 8.5 × 17.2 cm (3 3/8 × 6 3/4 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Accession number
2023.39.176
Credit line
Ross J. Kelbaugh Collection, Purchased with support from the Ford Foundation
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CPH

Subjects and terms

  • portrait
  • American
  • Street
  • African American
  • Village
  • Virginia
  • Stereograph
Provenance

Ross Kelbaugh, Marriottsville, MD; NGA purchase, 2023.

Inscription

on verso, by Ross Kelbaugh, top right in graphite: 23.8.LLBX 1 / AF121; center printed in black ink on applied label: FREEDMAN'S VILLAGE. / Photographed and published by BELL & BRO,, 480 Penn, Avenue, / WASHINGTON, D. C.; by unknown hand, center right in graphite perpendicular: Boston [?]

NGA object ID 227196. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.