Woman Firing a Rifle
Unknown American, American
about 1935-1945
Gelatin silver print
Image: 5 9/16 × 3 3/8 in. (14.2 × 8.5 cm)
Sheet: 6 × 3 3/4 in. (15.3 × 9.6 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Gift of Peter J. Cohen
2017.62.28
Geography
Place Made: United States, North America
Period
20th century
Object Name
Photograph
Research Area
Photograph
Not on view
Label
In all three of these everyday photographs, we see women with weapons such as guns or bows that are associated with hunting, war, and survival. Traditionally masculine, these skills transformed over the centuries into leisure activities. The angle from which the archery image was taken reinforces the power of these archers. We look up at the women, standing strong, as they point their arrows into the distance.
The two images of women shooting rifles introduce an interesting discrepancy involving their clothes. While both women are doing the same thing, the woman in the pants and bandana reads as more masculine, while the woman in the skirt reads as more intimidating, focused, and powerful. Do these images come across differently to you? How? Why?
From the 2025 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 123, Elegantly Violent: Exploring Masculinity and Gender Expectations within Women’s Sports, curated by Josephine (Josie) Harrison ’25, Mellon Special Project Intern
Provenance
Peter J. Cohen, New York, New York; given to present collection, 2017.
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