Street Closed 1975

Roy DeCarava captured "Street Closed" in a black and white photograph, a medium that strips away the distraction of color, focusing our attention on form and light. It's like he’s saying, "Look closer, see what's really there." The photo’s full of contrasts – the rough textures of old brick buildings against the smooth, almost ghostly cylinder on the right. Then there's the signage, boldly declaring "Street Closed," a visual barrier layered over a real one. DeCarava plays with depth; the eye struggles to find a clear path, bouncing from the signs to the buildings, caught in a maze of urban geometry. It reminds me a little of those Atget photos of Paris, but grittier, more American. Both artists share a fascination with the overlooked corners of city life, finding beauty in the mundane. DeCarava’s work, like all great art, is an invitation to see the world anew, to find poetry in the everyday.