John Gutmann – The Lesson, Central Park, New York City (1936) Later Gelatin Silver Print, Signed – Fraenkel Gallery

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Later gelatin silver photograph by John Gutmann (1905–1998) titled The Lesson, Central Park, New York City, originally photographed in 1936. … Read more Later gelatin silver photograph by John Gutmann (1905–1998) titled The Lesson, Central Park, New York City, originally photographed in 1936. This example was printed later and distributed through Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, one of the most respected photography galleries in the United States.

The print is signed in pencil on the verso by the artist, consistent with Gutmann’s standard signing practice. Fraenkel Gallery’s involvement confirms the print was produced to museum-quality standards and authorized for the secondary market.

Gutmann was a German-born American photographer associated with the New Vision and documentary photography movements, widely known for his candid depictions of American life during the 1930s–1950s. His work is held in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and the Getty Museum.

The Lesson is one of Gutmann’s best-known and most frequently cited images, valued for its quiet social observation, compositional clarity, and historical significance.

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Details
• Artist: John Gutmann (American, born Germany, 1905–1998)
• Title: The Lesson, Central Park, New York City
• Image Date: 1936
• Print Date: Printed later
• Medium: Gelatin silver photograph
• Signature: Signed in pencil on the verso
• Provenance: Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
• Style: Documentary / Street Photography / New Vision
• Condition: Very good condition with minor age-appropriate handling wear
• Framing: Framed

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