In the Paddy Wagon, 1944/1993 - Weegee (Arthur Fellig)

Through the generosity of Wilma Wilcox, with assistance from the Pace/MacGill Gallery, the estate of Arthur Fellig (a.k.a. Weegee) authorized the production of numbered limited editions (100 prints each) of In the Paddy Wagon and At Sammy's in the Bowery in 1993 to benefit BAM. Developed from the original 4"x5" negatives, these 11"x 14" gelatin silver prints were the first editions of Weegee's work created for public sale since his death in 1968.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Weegee prowled the streets of Manhattan, photographing over 5,000 stories for the Herald Tribune, Daily News, Post, and Sun. The only press photographer permitted to have a police radio in his car, Weegee was frequently the first to arrive at a crime scene often before the police. Weegee would then develop his film in a makeshift darkroom located in the trunk of his Chevrolet. When he wasn't scooping other members of the press Weegee captured intimate portraits of working class New Yorkers out on the town reveling in life's basic pleasures. The BAM editions are representative of Weegee's work, expressing sentiments ranging from unabashed merriment to infamous disgrace.

In order to properly capture the depth and character of the original images, the editions are printed on single weight KodaBromide paper, and then individually ferrotyped to provide a gloss finish. BAM was fortunate enough to locate a workshop skilled in this antique process, and the end result is indisputably successful.

Courtesy of BAM