Untitled c. 20th century

This is an interesting photograph by an anonymous artist, an image on a sheet, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This picture feels sepia-toned and old timey, which makes me think about how we archive history. Someone framed this view—the bridge, the cityscape, the river. It is a record of a time long gone. What was the photographer thinking? I can only imagine it was part of a larger project documenting their lives. The bridge is so architectural, a very solid thing with lots of regular arches supporting a road full of vehicles. I wonder if the artist was interested in the bridge as an embodiment of progress and the connection between places and people. Looking at this photograph makes me think about the work of other photographers. They were all in conversation with each other, and they had a deep curiosity about the world and the human condition. It reminds me that as artists we're all part of this ongoing exchange. We try to capture fleeting moments and make them timeless.