San Francisco Bay Ferry 1936 - 1937

Nathan Lerner captured this black and white photograph titled "San Francisco Bay Ferry". The photograph is taken from the interior of a car, framing the outside world through the windshield and rearview mirror. Lerner, who was born in 1913, came of age during the Great Depression and World War II. This backdrop undoubtedly shaped his lens and creative eye. The inside of the car offers a sense of American industry and prosperity. The exterior world seems to hint at the promise of progress, while the figures by the water's edge suggest themes of family, togetherness, and perhaps even the hopes for a brighter future post-war. The photograph has a distinct visual and emotional depth, where ideas about social identity, dreams, and the artist’s individual experience come together. It leaves us contemplating the complex relationship between personal identity and the collective American experience.