New York, 2003, at Canal Street and Broadway Possibly 2003 - 2014

Curator: So, let's look at this C-print by Leo Rubinfien, titled "New York, 2003, at Canal Street and Broadway," possibly taken sometime between 2003 and 2014. What’s your initial take? Editor: Intense. He’s really staring down the lens. It feels almost confrontational, like he’s challenging the viewer. It’s odd, catching such piercing eyes amidst the bustle of a street scene, isn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Rubinfien has a knack for capturing these unguarded moments in urban spaces. Street photography, especially of this era, often walks the line between observation and intrusion. This image specifically draws the eye to the individual within the mass of society, raising questions about urban alienation and the performance of identity in public. Editor: That grey suit against the bright chaos feels very deliberate. It screams Wall Street power but set against a very human, chaotic background, suggesting… maybe vulnerability, even in such a powerful persona? And what's the story behind him being on Canal Street amidst a gathering? Was this staged or snatched on the fly? Curator: Good questions. This could indeed be a critical commentary on social gatherings post 9/11 in that area. Or this may show a power broker removed from high places; but of course without knowing all the facts, all we can do is make informed inferences from historical records. Editor: True. And there’s something in his gaze. He looks knowing, cynical maybe. Like he sees through the spectacle of whatever’s happening around him, or even the act of being photographed. What I find most interesting about photography as street art is that very interplay of spontaneity, capture and curation. Did Rubinfien intend all this, or is my mind just creating patterns in the chaos? Curator: The magic often lies in that intersection, doesn't it? What the artist intended and what the viewer perceives become part of the art's evolving story. Rubinfien is not simply documenting but adding another voice in these crowded avenues of that crucial post 9/11 moment. Editor: A perfect snapshot of its time indeed. And a face that just asks a thousand unspoken questions. I’ll keep puzzling over his motives...and mine! Curator: Agreed, it provides a provocative glimpse into the individuals and environment that characterize those confusing years, making it invaluable in cultural record.