Skip to content

Museum object · Visual Arts

Slow Fade to Black: Ethel Waters

2009-2010

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
Visit the source record ↗

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

Color inkjet print (a) of Ethel Waters in a green frame (b). The photograph (a) is intentionally out of focus. The figure of Ethel Waters has her body turned away from the camera with her face looking back over her shoulder. She is smiling at the camera. Her back is bare and she is holding a red flower over her shoulder. The background is white with green leaves on the left. The original image shows Ethel Waters partially draped in lace fabric and wearing metal jewelry with diamond-shaped hanging earrings, a ring, and a bracelet. Waters is wearing pink lipstick and purple eyeshadow. The red rose and stem is fully visible from where she holds it over her shoulder. The photograph is inset in the frame (b). The back borders of the frame are raised and have paper tape around the edges. At the top is a sticker with the TransArt International shipping label.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2017.20.4ab

Continue exploring Series 1

Arts, Music & Culture →

Explore all Series 1 cards →