Bridgeport, Connecticut 1941

This silver gelatin print, Bridgeport, Connecticut, was made by Walker Evans, and look at that surface! The shades of grey, from almost black to a hazy white. You can really see the materiality of the moment in time. Look at the shop awning; Evans captured such clarity in the light and shadow, it's amazing. The stripes draw your eye around and through the composition. It reminds me of the way Ellsworth Kelly would later isolate and abstract architectural details. The three figures really bring this picture to life, that guy on the left has so much character. Is he happy, sad, a little crazy, or a little bit of all three? It reminds me that art doesn't have to be so serious. It can be quirky, personal, and above all, open to interpretation.