On Friday evenings from 1948 to 1950, an informal gathering of artists could be found tucked away in a loft at 35 East Eighth Street which came to be known as ‘Studio 35’. These sessions not only provided the opportunity for artists to discuss their own work, but as they were open to all, they also provided the opportunity for the artists to engage with and take questions from the public. The sessions grew in popularity, and after recognizing the importance of what was being discussed, it was decided to hold a three day symposium in late April 1950. Amongst the invitees were Louise Bourgeois, Willem de Kooning, Hans Hofmann and Robert Motherwell, to name a few. Aaron Siskind was also in attendance, documenting the days’ events through his camera lens, of which, the images in the current lot are an example. Siskind’s images and a stenographer’s recordings of the symposium were recorded in the book, Modern Artists in America, creating both a visual and written document of the time.