Nat Kaufman

These photos were taken by Nat Kaufman between 1950 and 1956. Nat bought most of his photography equipment and supplies at Coloute’s camera store on Christopher Street between Bleeker and 7th Avenue South, which was located there for several decades beginning in the 1940s. Nat served in WWII with Joe Butler of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. Joe would regularly visit Greenwich Village for the Whitney Museum (then located on 8th Street), and the Village Art Show. Nat had a great interest in photographing the Village Art Show, which he did with his Rolex double lens two and a quarter square, blowing his prints up on an Omega enlarger. Nat’s son Jonathan, who donated these images to Village Preservation in 1998, was born on Sheridan Square in 1956, went to P.S. 41, and lived at 165 Christopher Street.

Date
1998
Rights

Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to publish or reproduce must be secured from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Publisher
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
Corner of West 4th and West 10th Streets.
Nighttime streetscene. Location Unknown.
Courtyard looking up. Location unknown.
Shop Exterior. Location Unknown.
Washington Mews at University Place
Washington Arch at night with Christmas tree.
Joe’s Napolitana Kitchen.
Greenwich Village doorway. Location Unknown.
Washington Square North.
Streetlight and shop sign. Location Unknown.
Clock. Location Unknown.
Gaslight. Location Unknown.
Washington Square Park with snow in Winter.
End of Genius Row.
75-1/2 Bedford Street.
Alley with children at play. Location Unknown.
111 West 10th Street, street scene.
Greenwich Village doorway. Location Unknown.
Sleepers in Washington Square Park.
Mrs. Kaufman. Location Unknown. Likely Coney Island.
Man playing chess in Washington Square Park.
Man sleeping at chess table in Washington Square Park.
Elderly man in Washington Square Park.
Henry Agard Wallace, Vice President (1941-1945), and Presidential Candidate (1948).
Man sleeping at chess table in Washington Square Park.
Children playing in summer in the Washington Square Park fountain.
Washington Square Park fountain in Summer.
Washington Square Park fountain.
Ice delivery. Location Unknown.
Men playing bocce ball in what is now JJ Walker Park.
Elderly man carrying packages on the NE corner of 6th Avenue and Waverly Place, looking north (Women’s House of Detention [demolished] is visible in rear left)
Man at grill. Location Unknown.
Man picketing. Location Unknown.
Man welding. Location Unknown.
Outdoor café. Location Unknown. Likely Rockefeller Center.
Girl with rollerskates at the Washington Square Art Show.
Closeup of an artist at the Washington Square Art Show.
Man gazing at sculpture at the Washington Square Art Show.
Man sketching woman at the Washington Square Art Show in front of Judson Memorial Church.
Spectators at the Washington Square Art Show.
Woman sitting in front of a display for the Washington Square Art Show.
Man hanging paintings for the Washington Square Art Show.
Spectators at the Washington Square Art Show.
Child with camera. Location Unknown.
Portrait of a woman. Location Unknown.
Coney Island catch the rings game.
Coney Island Sideshow.
Man playing accordion. Location Unknown.
Man reading racing paper at the Washington Square Art Show.
Art display.
Woman painting.
Artist selling paintings at the Washington Square Art Show.
Man with stroller looking at a Washington Square Art Show display at 169 MacDougal Street/103 Waverly Place — now part of the Washington Square Hotel.
Woman hanging artwork for the Washington Square Art Show.
Artist sketching.
Woman in hat at the Washington Square Art Show.
Spectators at the Washington Square Art Show.
Man sitting in front of a fence while at the Washington Square Art Show.
Washington Square Art Show display on the construction fence for the NYU Law Center.
Display of etchings at the Washington Square Art Show.
Man whittling at the Washington Square Art Show.
Woman looking at a display at the Washington Square Art Show.
Man looking at a display at the Washington Square Art Show.
Display hung on an iron fence for the Washington Square Art Show.
Man and woman hanging paintings for the Washington Square Art Show.
Man dragging cart of artwork through Washington Square Park.
Man and woman carrying artwork through Washington Square Park.
Man hanging paintings for the Washington Square Art Show.