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W. Eugene Smith , (Dec 30, 1918–Oct 15, 1978)

Dr. Ernest Ceriani Following the Loss of a Mother and Child During Childbirth

1948

Medium and Support: gelatin silver print

Credit Line: gift of Hart Leavitt

Accession Number: 1992.122.5

Commentary

An outstanding example of the human-interest photo-essays that ran
during the golden age of picture magazines, W. Eugene Smith’s “Country
Doctor” shows the daily life and challenges faced by Dr. Ceriani in Kremmling,
Colorado. The photographs, which were first published in Life in 1948,
show the local doctor performing a staggering number of procedures including:
resetting a dislocated shoulder, amputating a leg, delivering a baby, tending
to the elderly, and stitching up a little girl who had been kicked in the
head by a horse. The story ends with this photograph of the doctor looking
worn, as he smokes a cigarette and has a cup of coffee at 2 a.m. after an
operation. The Life caption says, “The nurses constantly admonish him to
rest and relax, but they are well aware he cannot. They keep a fresh pot of
coffee for him at all hours.” After this story ran in Life, it was published
in American propaganda magazines Heute (Today) in Germany and Amerika
in Russia in an effort to spread American values and culture.

Photographers Among Us

Exhibition List

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Photographers Among Us Addison Gallery of American Art , 4/7/2018 - 7/31/2018

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