Radio Tower Berlin 1928

This black and white photograph of the Radio Tower in Berlin was taken by László Moholy-Nagy. It’s a dizzying shot taken looking down through the tower, an array of girders framing the scene. The eye travels down the photograph, taking in the radial pattern of the plaza and, further out, neat rows of vehicles. It’s an unusual perspective, and the way the light falls creates a complex pattern of shadow and highlights. This combination of sharp focus and stark tonal contrast is very typical of Moholy-Nagy’s photographic experiments. The composition has a curious formal resemblance to some of the abstract geometric paintings of the period. When I look at this image, I also think of the work of Alexander Rodchenko, who was interested in similar themes. Like Moholy-Nagy, Rodchenko embraced the ambiguity of art and its power to offer multiple perspectives.