Mining Cage, Savage Mine, Virginia City, Nevada

Artist Timothy H. O'Sullivan (American, born Ireland, 1840 - 1882)

Date1868

MediumAlbumen print

DimensionsImage and sheet: 7 1/16 × 9 inches (17.94 × 22.86 cm)
Mount: 18 × 23 15/16 inches (45.72 × 60.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Object number2005.27.3296

Signednone

InscribedOn image recto, bottom, in negative: "88"; On mount recto, bottom, in black type with pencil: "No. 88" / "U.S. / ENGINEER DEPARTMENT. / GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION / FORTIETH PARALLEL. / T. H. O'Sullivan, Photographer."

MarkingsOn mount recto, lower right corner, in pencil: "50 Mining Nevada - Cage"; On mount verso, upper right, in pencil: "98".

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Not on view

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DescriptionImage of a tall mechanical structure (mining cage) placed outdoors on a platform. It features a curved, roof-like canopy and various mechanical joints throughout its metal framework. It's placed in front of a multi-story building where Icicles hang from the roof and snow covers the ground. A figure wearing dark clothing stands partially obscured behind the right side of the cage.Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Timothy H. O’Sullivan: The King Survey Photographs. The Art Institute of Chicago, October 22, 2011 - January 15, 2012, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, April 7 - September 2, 2012, Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo, UT, January 23 - May 26, 2014, no. 27.

Gallery Label

At the Savage mine, O'Sullivan photographed one of the cages used to transport workers and cars up and down the central mine shafts. The snow in this view testifies to the harsh winter of 1867-68. O'Sullivan had a companion hold a white card or sheet behind the cage to so that details of the mechanism could be more cleanly recorded. This sheet obscures the man's top half, creating a surreal image of a figure without a torso or head. In addition, this negative is scarred by crop marks intended to eliminate much of the distracting background.

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