We Stopped Here 1915

Alfred Stanley Johnson made this photograph, “We Stopped Here,” sometime in the early 20th century, presumably with a camera and a sense of humor! The grayscale tones create a dramatic, chaotic scene. Look at the figures flying through the air—are they jumping or being thrown? The whole image has a performative, almost theatrical quality. I am really struck by the way the composition captures a moment of complete disarray, transforming it into something visually compelling. The light and shadow play across the wrecked car and the seemingly unaffected train beside it, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. This picture feels like something Martin Kippenberger might have dreamt up, or maybe John Baldessari would have staged. It’s a reminder that art can find its voice in the unexpected, turning a moment of chaos into a moment of reflection, and, dare I say, even beauty.