Tract House #16 1971

With his camera, Lewis Baltz documented the built environment. This monochrome photograph shows the rear of what I assume is a mass-produced suburban house. A sliding glass door reflects the external environment, whilst the small window gives us nothing. The dark shingled roof looms, heavy, over the rest of the building. I wonder if Baltz chose this subject matter for its formal qualities: the subtle textures of the shingles, brickwork, and render, the interplay of horizontal and vertical planes. Or maybe it’s a comment on the way we live? The house seems devoid of human presence or personality, more like a stage set than a home. Yet, despite the seemingly neutral and objective style, it has its own beauty. The image reminds me of the work of the New Topographics photographers, and I can see the influence of artists like Bernd and Hilla Becher. There's a whole conversation going on between artists, across time. Baltz's work invites us to reconsider our relationship with the built environment. It's fascinating to see how an artist can transform everyday subjects into something intriguing and meaningful.