Rome: Arch of Constantine 5 1967

Aaron Siskind's 1967 gelatin silver print, "Rome: Arch of Constantine 5," presents a close-up view of a weathered sculpture on the Arch of Constantine in Rome. The image, captured in a stark black and white, emphasizes the texture and surface details of the ancient stone. The composition, with its focus on a single, fragmented figure, evokes a sense of time, history, and the passage of time. Siskind, a prominent figure in American photography, was known for his evocative and often abstract approach to capturing the built environment, transforming ordinary scenes into compelling works of art. This photograph, like much of his work, invites viewers to contemplate the beauty and decay of urban spaces.