Still Night c. 1935

Mina Pulsifer's "Still Night" presents us with a seemingly ordinary scene rendered in stark black and white. It's a night scene dominated by utility poles, a street lamp, and the flat rooftops of what could be urban apartments. Pulsifer, born at the turn of the 20th century, lived through a period of rapid technological and social change. The presence of the utility pole and the rooftop antennae highlight the increasing presence of technology in everyday life. But what does it mean to frame this technological progress with the quiet stillness of the night? Is it a celebration of modernity, or a meditation on its impact on our sense of peace and quiet? Understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production requires us to engage with sources from the period. With further research, we might start to unpack some of the complexities of this print.