Peter Hujar: Catacombs

The artist photographed the Palermo Catacombs during a 1963 trip to Italy with Paul Thek. The artist’s first monograph, Portraits in Life and Death (published 1976), juxtaposes several of these images with portraits of writers and artists from Hujar’s social circle.

Black-and-white photograph of preserved skeletons dressed in shrouds and gowns in two rows

Black-and-white photograph of a preserved body with a patterned sash around its neck

Black-and-white photograph of a human skull peering out of a glass-fronted wooden box

Black-and-white photograph of a skull lying amid silk flowers in a glass case

Black-and-white photograph of a preserved child's body propped up in a wooden alcove

Black-and-white photograph of preserved shrouded bodies standing above wooden boxes containing children's preserved bodies

Black-and-white photograph of a skeleton in a lace dress lying in a glass-fronted box

Black-and-white photograph of two preserved children's bodies propped up in a wooden compartment amid other bodies

Black-and-white photograph of a preserved child's body lying in a wooden compartment

Black-and-white photograph of a preserved child's body lying in a glass-fronted wooden case with dried flowers

Black-and-white photograph of a hooded preserved body propped up amid other skeletons in compartments

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Peter Hujar: Catacombs

Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #11

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #9

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #8

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #2

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #6

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #13

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #5

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #7

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #4

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #10

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarPalermo Catacombs #12

1963

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Related Portfolios

Black-and-white photograph of a black dog resting her head on her paws

Peter Hujar: Animals

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Peter Hujar: Animals

To Hujar, who grew up on a farm, animals and people were of equal interest. His photographs of dogs, horses, and cows seem to convey a mutual recognition between photographer and subject, a sort of calm acknowledgement.

A black and white photograph of a older black dog laying down on a light colored blanket, looking off to the side — Peter Hujar, Clarissa Dalrymple’s Dog, Kirsten, 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a seated dog in the artists studio — Peter Hujar, Beauregard’s Dog Pilar, 1983 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of three sheep on hill — Peter Hujar, Sheep, Pennsylvania, 1969 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a seated dog with a wrinkled face and coat — Peter Hujar, Will: Char-Pei (I), 1985 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a dark horse chewing on a wooden fencepost with a pasture in the background — Peter Hujar, Horse, Warwick, R.I., 1979

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter Hujar, Cat in Snow, Germantown, 1982

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a shaggy haired cow outdoors — Peter Hujar, Shaggy Cow (I), 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a snake on corner of blanket covered table — Peter Hujar, Skippy (Boa Constrictor), 1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of two cows with white faces standing sideways with their heads turned to the viewer — Peter Hujar, Butch and Buster, 1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a seated dog — Peter Hujar, Bouche Walker (Reggie’s Dog), 1981

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a foal in a harness following its mother's tail — Peter Hujar, Colt with Mother, Italy, 1975

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarClarissa Dalrymple’s Dog, Kirsten

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarBeauregard’s Dog Pilar

1983 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarSheep, Pennsylvania

1969 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarWill: Char-Pei (I)

1985 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarHorse, Warwick, R.I.

1979

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarCat in Snow, Germantown

1982

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarShaggy Cow (I)

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarSkippy (Boa Constrictor)

1985

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarButch and Buster

1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarBouche Walker (Reggie’s Dog)

1981

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarColt with Mother, Italy

1975

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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A black and white photograph of two people in a car wearing hats and masks, one leans out of the window with a cigarette in their mouth, the other peers in the same direction from the steering wheel

Peter Hujar: Night

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Peter Hujar: Night

Hujar’s sometimes playful, often bleak photographs of New York after sunset show revelers of the nightlife and a decaying urban landscape, all wrapped in a velvety blackness broken only by street lamps, fluorescent building windows, and the camera’s flash.

Black-and-white photograph of an empty street with marquees and tinsel arches spanning the road — Peter Hujar, San Gennaro Street Fair at Dawn (I), 1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of thin bare trees lit up with a camera flash at night — Peter Hujar, Trees with Flash, New Jersey, 1975

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of the exterior of a gas station during early morning hours — Peter Hujar, Exxon Station, 1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of shirtless man dressed in flashy clothes sitting on car — Peter Hujar, Boy in Plastic Pants, 1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet)

Black-and-white photograph of city buildings with lighted windows above a glowing street — Peter Hujar, Night, Downtown, 1976 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of a shuttered garage door painted with NO PARKING and single car parked in an adjacent driveway on a cobbled street — Peter Hujar, No Parking, 1976 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black-and-white photograph of city buildings lit up from inside standing above a parking lot — Peter Hujar, Night Skyline and Parking Lots, 1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Black and white photograph of a person with curly hair, lipstick, and pearl necklace with a lily flower tucked behind one ear — Peter Hujar, Drag Queen With Flower, Halloween, 1980

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

Peter HujarBoys in Car, Halloween

1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarSan Gennaro Street Fair at Dawn (I)

1976

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarTrees with Flash, New Jersey

1975

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarExxon Station

1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Peter HujarBoy in Plastic Pants

1978 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet)

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Peter HujarNight, Downtown

1976 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Email address*
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Name
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Peter HujarNo Parking

1976 / printed later

pigment print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

First name*
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Peter HujarNight Skyline and Parking Lots

1976

gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Name
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Peter HujarDrag Queen With Flower, Halloween

1980

gelatin-silver print, 20 x 16 inches (sheet) [50.8 x 40.6 cm]

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Black-and-white photograph of a person with long wiry black hair and heavy jewelry and make up with one hand behind their head

Peter Hujar: Portraits

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Peter Hujar: Portraits

The composed portraits of lovers, friends, and artists of New York’s Downtown milieu, often photographed in Hujar’s own loft, capture each sitter in an unrestrained moment of openness and connection.