5th Avenue 1908

This is a photograph of 5th Avenue by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. It’s a straightforward image, a black and white photograph of a busy street. What I immediately notice is the texture. Look at the way the light catches the surfaces. The smooth, almost reflective street contrasts with the rougher facades of the buildings. And then there are the people, blurry figures captured in motion, like ghosts. It's as if the artist is playing with time, freezing a moment while also hinting at its fleeting nature. The carriage in the middle of the street looks like it is just passing by. This piece reminds me of some of Atget's photographs of Paris. Both artists were interested in documenting their respective cities, but there’s also a sense of poetry in their work. They both find beauty in the everyday, in the ordinary moments that often go unnoticed.