Russian Orthodox Fund, New York City 1975

Larry Fink made this gelatin silver print titled "Russian Orthodox Fund, New York City". Fink often photographed social elites, and he was interested in the nuances of class and power. In this image, we see a man in a tuxedo playing the piano, with another tuxedoed man in the background. Above the piano is a landscape painting in a gilded frame. Given the title, it is likely that this event was a fundraiser for the Russian Orthodox Church. We might ask what the relationship is between the church and the upper classes in New York City. Perhaps the landscape painting is intended to evoke the Russian countryside, creating a nostalgic atmosphere for the wealthy donors. To understand the full context, we might look at archival material related to the Russian Orthodox Church in New York, or perhaps research the social circles in which Fink was working. The meaning of this image is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was made and viewed.