The Empire Stores warehouse on Water Street and Dock Street in Brooklyn after 22

Berenice Abbott captured this image of the Empire Stores warehouse in Brooklyn using gelatin silver print, a technique prevalent in the early 20th century. The materiality of photography is key here. Note the stark contrast created by the silver particles suspended in gelatin when exposed to light, allowing Abbott to document this colossal brick structure and the textures of the industrial landscape. The building's facade, emblazoned with faded advertisements, speaks to the social context of commerce and industry that defined the area. The stark black-and-white tones emphasize the weight and solidity of the building, but also the way it is marked by time and labor. Every brick laid, every painted letter—these are traces of human effort, embedded in the urban fabric. Abbott’s eye transforms a mundane scene of urban labor into a study of form, light, and the industrial age's profound impact on the city. This image reminds us that even in the most functional of structures, the careful consideration of materials and making can result in something profoundly meaningful.