About the Object
This photograph, taken in the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Plant in Buffalo, New York, features a closely cropped image of a white plant fixture in front of a row of airplane wings. An American flag hangs from the rafters behind the wings. This is one of three photographs Crawford took of these fixtures in the factory, including Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Plant Fixture, (VF2013.01.02) and Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Plant Fixture, (VF2013.01.15).
Additional Information
In December 1944, Crawford received a commission from Burton Tremaine, president and chairman of the Miller Lighting Company, to commemorate the installation of nine miles of continuous fluorescent lighting in the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Plant in Buffalo, New York. Crawford was given special permission to photograph inside the plant, taking a least a dozen pictures and creating dozens of drawings, resulting in at least 11 related paintings.
The Artist;
By descent to the Artist’s son, John C. Crawford, Brooklyn, NY;
Navratil, Emily Schuchardt. “Curtiss-Wright,” in Rick Kinsel, et al., Ralston Crawford: Air + Space + War. London: Merrell, 2021, ill. p. 125.