Chicago 1961

This photograph, simply titled 'Chicago,' was made by Harry Callahan. It's a gelatin silver print, a process that yields a rich range of blacks and whites. The image presents a woman holding a newspaper, seemingly caught in a moment amidst the city’s bustle. What makes this work particularly compelling is the layering of different modes of production: the architecture as a product of industrial manufacturing, and the hand-knitted shawl worn by the woman. This homemade piece contrasts sharply with the mass-produced newspaper, emblazoned with headlines that speak to the city's collective interests. Callahan was interested in how the camera could capture fleeting moments, and his work is deeply entwined with the materiality of everyday life. By focusing our attention on these details, the photograph challenges conventional hierarchies between art and craft, inviting us to contemplate how they intersect within the urban fabric. It’s a reminder that meaning resides not only in the subject, but also in the ways things are made and consumed.