JOSEPH CONRAD, 1935

black-and-white photograph; safety negative

PHOTOGRAPHS - SOFT NEGATIVES
Rosenfeld, Stanley
USA, NY, New York
1935-01-31
safety film, Eastman Kodak
overall: 5 x 7 in.

On a frigid January morning in 1935, the Joseph Conrad sailed out of New York harbor with a crew of very young sailors aboard on a training course. The sails were frozen stiff, and the fingers of the crewmen aloft setting the topgallants were bloodied from clawing at sails and sheets. Against the afternoon sun the details are missing. What is left is the romance of the little square-rigger setting out to sea. I took this photograph from the tugboat that assisted the Joseph Conrad away from the dock. The temperature was in the low teens. My fingers quickly froze, and the temptation to stay in the warm pilothouse became overwhelming.

1984.187.70300F

Mystic Seaport, Rosenfeld Collection