Streetscape, New York 1936

Ilse Bing made this photograph called Streetscape, New York with a camera and photographic paper, sometime in the 20th Century. The high angle, almost vertiginous, really puts you on edge; it feels like the buildings are about to swallow you up, and you get a sense of how the city can both lift you up and make you feel tiny. There's a fascinating contrast between the almost clinical precision of the grid-like facades of the skyscrapers and the organic chaos unfolding on the streets below. You can almost feel the sun glinting off the rooftops, and see the tiny figures hurrying along the sidewalks. The tonal range is delicious, from the deep blacks of the shadows to the bright whites of the highlights, giving the image a real sense of depth and atmosphere. I am reminded a little of the urban landscapes of Paul Strand, who was also working in New York at this time. But Bing brings her own unique eye to the city, finding beauty in the everyday and revealing the hidden poetry of urban life.