Roy DeCarava, Gittel, 1950

Silver gelatin print

Image: 14 7/8 x 19 5/16 inches

Provenance

Provenance:

Collection of the photographer's first wife M. A. Terry

By decent to M.A. Terry’s niece, Atlanta, GA

Provenance:

Acquired directly from the photographer by M. A. Terry, the photographer's first wife, circa 1957-1963.

Held in M. A. Terry's residence in East Manhattan until inherited by her niece in Atlanta, GA.

Mary Alice Terry, also known as Terry, was the first wife of the photographer. Terry recounted that she was present during the creation of this photograph. According to Terry's niece, Terry claimed she played a significant role in fostering the photographer's confidence. The niece's father maintained a close friendship with Roy DeCarava and is depicted in "The

Included in the sale this first edition of "The Sweet Flypaper of Life," inscribed to Terry in 1957 and signed by Roy DeCarava's. establishes, provenance, authenticity, and lineage of the photograph.

Notes (not client facing):

Donna Casellas is M.A. Terry's niece. The print was in M.A. Terry's

Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village East Manhattan home until Donna inherited it when she turned 50. Mary Alice Terry was Roy's first wife. She refused to take his last name and went by "Terry". According to Auntie Terry she was with him when he took this photograph and told him "that's an amazing picture, take that". According to Donna Terry took credit for building up Roy's confidence as a photographer. Donna's father was good friends with Roy DeCarava. Donna's father is pictured in The Sweet Flypaper of Life book.

Terry was a graphic artist. She edited books and content. She was very independent and strong willed. She wanted her her name to be gender nuetral to avoid potential discrimination based on her gender when seeking work.

Exhibitions

This image was included in the 1996 MoMA retrospective curated by Peter Galassi

1 of over 200 images which spanned over 5 decades

https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/276?

Literature

Illustrated on page 71 of Roy DeCarava: A Retrospective by Peter Galassi, and Sherry Turner DeCarava, January 1, 1996.