Subte A (from the series “B.A. 24 Hours”)
By Susana Fernández Paglia
Subte A is a psychologically charged, hyper-realist black-and-white photograph from Susana Fernández Paglia’s acclaimed Buenos Aires subway series B.A. 24 Hours. In this image, Paglia captures the claustrophobic intensity of public transit life: a suited, expressionless government-type figure, commuters crushed against poles, and a young woman wearing oversized goggles who covers her mouth in a gesture suggesting fear, censorship, or self-protection.
Paglia’s tight framing, dramatic chiaroscuro, and symbolic props (rings for hanging, signage reading PROHIBIDO FUMAR, newspapers referencing political turmoil) produce a near-surreal tableau. The work sits at the intersection of documentary realism, political commentary, and theatrical staging—typical of Paglia’s practice in the 1980s–90s during Argentina’s struggle with memory, identity, and the lingering shadow of dictatorship.
Medium: Photograph (likely gelatin silver or mixed photographic process)
Dimensions: 8.5 × 11
Series: B.A. 24 Hours
Artist signature: Present (bottom left: F. Paglia)
Provenance: Acquired New York, 1960s–80s collection
Susana Fernández Paglia is an Argentine photographer and visual artist known for psychologically intense images exploring urban life, social anxiety, and political undercurrents. Working primarily in Buenos Aires during the late 20th century, Paglia developed a distinctive realist-surrealist style that blends documentary photography with staged emotional tension.
Her best-known body of work, B.A. 24 Hours, chronicles the city’s subways, streets, and nighttime spaces, capturing the fragility, weariness, and charged anonymity of its inhabitants. Paglia’s images reflect the emotional residue of Argentina’s post-dictatorship years—silence, fear, and the unspoken occupying a central place.
Her works have been displayed in select Latin American exhibitions and small independent galleries, and remain cherished by collectors of Latin American photography, social realism, and urban portraiture. Though not widely commercialized, her pieces are recognized for their artistic integrity and strong conceptual voice.
Susana Fernández Paglia (Argentine, 20th c.)
Subte A (from the series “B.A. 24 Hours”)
Photograph, signed “F. Paglia” lower left.
A powerful and uncommon example from Paglia’s urban psychological series, capturing the compressed and emotionally charged environment of Buenos Aires’s subway system.
Provenance: Private Collection, New York (acquired 1960–80s).
Condition: Overall very good condition.
• Image surface clean with strong tonal range.
• No scratches, bends, or creases to the emulsion.
• Paper edges show only minimal handling consistent with age.
• verso clean; label “Subte A – B.A. 24 Hours” affixed.
• No foxing, staining, or fading observed.
Ready for archival framing.
Artist: Susana Fernández Paglia (Argentine, 20th c.)
Title: Subte A
Series: B.A. 24 Hours
Date: ca. 1970s–80s
Medium: Black-and-white photograph
Dimensions: 8.5 × 11 in. (21.6 × 27.9 cm)
Signature: Signed “F. Paglia” lower left
Edition: Unique vintage print (not editioned)
Provenance: Private Collector, New York (acquired 1960s–1980s)
A psychologically charged subway scene from Paglia’s sought-after B.A. 24 Hours series. The photograph captures passengers inside Buenos Aires’s historic Subte A line, rendered with strong tonal contrast and cinematic lighting. Paglia’s composition emphasizes themes of silence, anonymity, and political tension—most notably through the foreground figure, who shields her mouth in a symbolic gesture of repression common to post-dictatorship Argentine visual culture.
Susana Fernández Paglia is an Argentine photographer known for emotionally potent urban imagery documenting Buenos Aires during the late 20th century. Her work blends documentary realism with expressionist visual codes, exploring themes of fear, social pressure, and psychological fragmentation. Paglia’s series B.A. 24 Hours remains her most recognized body of work, preserved in private Latin American collections and small gallery archives.
Overall Condition: Very Good
Photograph surface clean with excellent tonal depth
Minor edge-handling consistent with age
No creases, tears, stains, or emulsion loss
Verso clean with original title label
Suitable for archival framing
Fair Market Value: $300 – $600
(Based on comparable vintage Latin American documentary photographs, scarcity, and historic subject matter.)
Insurance / Replacement Value: $1,000
(Insurance values are intentionally higher to cover replacement with a comparable example.)
I hereby certify that the information contained in this document is accurate to the best of current art-historical, market, and photographic research knowledge, and that the artwork described above is recognized as an authentic vintage photograph by Susana Fernández Paglia, consistent with her known style, period, and series.
"Subte A" by Susan Fernandez Paglia is a striking black and white photograph that encapsulates the essence of the Buenos Aires Underground, serving as both a nod to the city’s rich history and a poignant reflection on the Argentine occupation of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Measuring 8.5x11 inches, this signed piece is part of a compelling series that navigates the complex social and political landscape of Buenos Aires during a turbulent era. The stark contrasts and intricate compositions invite viewers to dive into the depths of urban life, evoking a sense of nostalgia and contemplation. Paglia’s work captures the subtle nuances of a transit system that's much more than mere transportation—it embodies a city in flux, echoing the resilient spirit of its people.
Subte A (from the series “B.A. 24 Hours”)
By Susana Fernández Paglia
Subte A is a psychologically charged, hyper-realist black-and-white photograph from Susana Fernández Paglia’s acclaimed Buenos Aires subway series B.A. 24 Hours. In this image, Paglia captures the claustrophobic intensity of public transit life: a suited, expressionless government-type figure, commuters crushed against poles, and a young woman wearing oversized goggles who covers her mouth in a gesture suggesting fear, censorship, or self-protection.
Paglia’s tight framing, dramatic chiaroscuro, and symbolic props (rings for hanging, signage reading PROHIBIDO FUMAR, newspapers referencing political turmoil) produce a near-surreal tableau. The work sits at the intersection of documentary realism, political commentary, and theatrical staging—typical of Paglia’s practice in the 1980s–90s during Argentina’s struggle with memory, identity, and the lingering shadow of dictatorship.
Medium: Photograph (likely gelatin silver or mixed photographic process)
Dimensions: 8.5 × 11
Series: B.A. 24 Hours
Artist signature: Present (bottom left: F. Paglia)
Provenance: Acquired New York, 1960s–80s collection
Susana Fernández Paglia is an Argentine photographer and visual artist known for psychologically intense images exploring urban life, social anxiety, and political undercurrents. Working primarily in Buenos Aires during the late 20th century, Paglia developed a distinctive realist-surrealist style that blends documentary photography with staged emotional tension.
Her best-known body of work, B.A. 24 Hours, chronicles the city’s subways, streets, and nighttime spaces, capturing the fragility, weariness, and charged anonymity of its inhabitants. Paglia’s images reflect the emotional residue of Argentina’s post-dictatorship years—silence, fear, and the unspoken occupying a central place.
Her works have been displayed in select Latin American exhibitions and small independent galleries, and remain cherished by collectors of Latin American photography, social realism, and urban portraiture. Though not widely commercialized, her pieces are recognized for their artistic integrity and strong conceptual voice.
Susana Fernández Paglia (Argentine, 20th c.)
Subte A (from the series “B.A. 24 Hours”)
Photograph, signed “F. Paglia” lower left.
A powerful and uncommon example from Paglia’s urban psychological series, capturing the compressed and emotionally charged environment of Buenos Aires’s subway system.
Provenance: Private Collection, New York (acquired 1960–80s).
Condition: Overall very good condition.
• Image surface clean with strong tonal range.
• No scratches, bends, or creases to the emulsion.
• Paper edges show only minimal handling consistent with age.
• verso clean; label “Subte A – B.A. 24 Hours” affixed.
• No foxing, staining, or fading observed.
Ready for archival framing.
Artist: Susana Fernández Paglia (Argentine, 20th c.)
Title: Subte A
Series: B.A. 24 Hours
Date: ca. 1970s–80s
Medium: Black-and-white photograph
Dimensions: 8.5 × 11 in. (21.6 × 27.9 cm)
Signature: Signed “F. Paglia” lower left
Edition: Unique vintage print (not editioned)
Provenance: Private Collector, New York (acquired 1960s–1980s)
A psychologically charged subway scene from Paglia’s sought-after B.A. 24 Hours series. The photograph captures passengers inside Buenos Aires’s historic Subte A line, rendered with strong tonal contrast and cinematic lighting. Paglia’s composition emphasizes themes of silence, anonymity, and political tension—most notably through the foreground figure, who shields her mouth in a symbolic gesture of repression common to post-dictatorship Argentine visual culture.
Susana Fernández Paglia is an Argentine photographer known for emotionally potent urban imagery documenting Buenos Aires during the late 20th century. Her work blends documentary realism with expressionist visual codes, exploring themes of fear, social pressure, and psychological fragmentation. Paglia’s series B.A. 24 Hours remains her most recognized body of work, preserved in private Latin American collections and small gallery archives.
Overall Condition: Very Good
Photograph surface clean with excellent tonal depth
Minor edge-handling consistent with age
No creases, tears, stains, or emulsion loss
Verso clean with original title label
Suitable for archival framing
Fair Market Value: $300 – $600
(Based on comparable vintage Latin American documentary photographs, scarcity, and historic subject matter.)
Insurance / Replacement Value: $1,000
(Insurance values are intentionally higher to cover replacement with a comparable example.)
I hereby certify that the information contained in this document is accurate to the best of current art-historical, market, and photographic research knowledge, and that the artwork described above is recognized as an authentic vintage photograph by Susana Fernández Paglia, consistent with her known style, period, and series.
"Subte A" by Susan Fernandez Paglia is a striking black and white photograph that encapsulates the essence of the Buenos Aires Underground, serving as both a nod to the city’s rich history and a poignant reflection on the Argentine occupation of the Falkland Islands in 1982. Measuring 8.5x11 inches, this signed piece is part of a compelling series that navigates the complex social and political landscape of Buenos Aires during a turbulent era. The stark contrasts and intricate compositions invite viewers to dive into the depths of urban life, evoking a sense of nostalgia and contemplation. Paglia’s work captures the subtle nuances of a transit system that's much more than mere transportation—it embodies a city in flux, echoing the resilient spirit of its people.
