- Levon West (Ivan Dmitri)
- Dark Doorway, Venice
- Drypoint Etching
- 16 x 8.5 in
- Signature: Signed Levon West on lower right side of print
- Inv: 186-138
A black and white dry point etching of a woman standing inside a large three pointed archway.
Ivan Dmitri (or Dmitre) (1900 – 1968), born Levon West, was an American photographic artist. Born in Centerville, South Dakota, his father was a Congregational minister who immigrated from Armenia. The family changed their name to West when Levon and his brothers did not want to enlist in the service during World War I under their Armenian last name, Assadoorian. The name West was chosen as it was the maiden name of Levon's mother. Levon West adopted the pen name of Ivan Dmitri to use for his color photography. His etchings and watercolors were always done under his original name, Levon West. His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Ivan Dmitri helped to gain acceptance for photography as an art medium, and established one of the first photography exhibits at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dmitri felt that such a move was necessary in order for the public to treat photography as art, rather than just something reserved smaller mediums like books, magazines, and newspapers. In 1959, Ivan Dmitri founded Photography in the Fine Arts.
West was a recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award in April 1962, the third person so inducted
- Subject Matter: City, Architecture, Shadow, Woman, People, Water
- Current Location: CS.R2.SH3.B28