Slow Fade to Black: Dorothy Jean Dandridge

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 Dorothy Jean Dandridge in a green frame (b). The photograph (a) is intentionally out of focus. The figure of Dorothy Jean Dandridge is in the center of the photograph. Dandridge's body is angled to the left with her head turned toward the camera. She is in a form-fitting strapless silver dress with a train. Dandridge gives off the appereance of dancing and has her knees and arms bent. The left side of the photograph has a blurred image of a black shape [piano] that extends out of the frame. The background is orange with shadows around the edges that highlight Dandridge in the center. The original photograph shows the grand piano with the lid propped open and a candle resting on the case. Dandridge is wearing a matching earrings and necklace set of dark inlaid gemstones. She has silver heels that match the ruched silver dress with a sweetheart neckline.

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