Cigar Store c. 1934 - 1979

Nathan Lerner made this photograph, called "Cigar Store," using black and white film to capture an urban scene from above. The high-contrast shadows and sharp angles immediately grab you, don't they? I'm thinking about how Lerner makes the mundane feel so dynamic. The flat surfaces of the signs become almost abstract shapes, playing against the figures moving below. Check out how the word "Cigar" is cut off, making it less about selling smokes and more about pure form. It reminds me of some of the Bauhaus photography; that interest in architecture, but also in seeing the world from a new perspective, like László Moholy-Nagy's work. I love how this piece isn't just a snapshot; it's an observation about how we see and move through the city. What do you think?