Rockefeller Center Parking Space, 40 West 49th Street 1938

Berenice Abbott’s photograph of a Rockefeller Center parking lot captures a dizzying pattern of parked cars, taken from high above. I wonder about the moment she captured it, whether she planned the shot or was captivated by the scene as she passed, the light hitting the parked vehicles, row upon row, each slightly different, yet all the same. It's kind of amazing when you think about it, all those cars parked so neatly, like little soldiers waiting for their next command. The dark shadows make it look as though some are about to break rank. I wonder what Abbott was thinking as she made this image? Was she thinking about the impact of the car on city life, or was she simply drawn to the visual patterns and rhythms of the parking lot? I can’t help but feel there is an element of humor here. It makes me think about the work of other photographers who were drawn to everyday urban spaces, like Lee Friedlander. Ultimately, this photograph is a reminder that even the most mundane subjects can be transformed into something beautiful and thought-provoking through the eyes of an artist.