Washington, D.C. Marian Anderson broadcasting a Negro spiritual at the dedication of a mural installed in the United States Department of the Interior building, commemorating the outdoor concert which she gave at the Lincoln Memorial after the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow her to sing in Constitution Hall after 1943

This gelatin silver print was made by Gordon Parks, capturing Marian Anderson in Washington D.C.. Parks skillfully wielded photography, a medium reliant on both technical precision and artistic vision, to document a pivotal moment, layering complex social and cultural meanings. Note the contrast between the soft tones of Anderson's dress and the sharp details of the microphones, each carefully positioned to capture and amplify her voice, a metaphor for the power and reach of her message. The mural behind her, depicting idealized images of the American landscape, further contextualizes Anderson's performance within a narrative of national identity. Parks doesn't just capture a singer; he frames a narrative about race, labor, and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. His work invites us to consider the political potency of art, as both a tool of resistance and a testament to resilience.