[Street scene, Lübeck] c. 1940s - 1950s

Curator: This is a small photographic slide, a cityscape called "Street scene, Lübeck," attributed to Laurence Feininger. Editor: There's a stark, almost haunting quality to the composition, the vertical lines of the buildings pressing down. Curator: The process itself, the darkroom work and the printing, must have been laborious, each print an artifact of a specific moment in time, a specific set of social conditions and access. Editor: The arrangement of light and shadow creates a dramatic effect, almost theatrical, drawing the eye down the narrow street. Curator: The materiality of the slide itself speaks to a particular moment in the history of photography. The labor of creating such a piece is significant. Editor: It's a compelling study in perspective and tonal range, creating depth in a tiny frame, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Indeed. Considering the means of production adds a richer layer to our understanding. Editor: Precisely, and appreciating the formal choices enhances our experience, wouldn't you say?