Buildings n.d.

Andy Warhol made this silver gelatin print, "Buildings," at an undetermined time, likely in the 60s or 70s. The image presents a monumental, neoclassical building, perhaps a government building, with imposing columns and a symmetrical facade, rendered in stark black and white. Made in the United States, the photograph can be read as a commentary on institutional power during a time of significant social change. Warhol captures the building’s grandeur, but the inclusion of ordinary people in the foreground contrasts with the architecture's intimidating scale. This tension might be seen as a reflection of the era's questioning of authority. Was Warhol trying to show an ambivalence toward established institutions? Or even critique them? The image's style, with its high contrast and documentary feel, aligns with Warhol’s interest in mass production and everyday subjects. Further research into Warhol’s other architectural photographs, his statements about social issues, and the cultural context of the time may clarify his intent.