Horn & Hardart's Possibly 1954 - 1978

Curator: William Klein’s photograph, "Horn & Hardart's," likely taken sometime between 1954 and 1978, plunges us into a bustling urban scene. Editor: It’s so moody, isn’t it? The stark blacks and grays really capture that sort of hurried anonymity you find in a city. There's a real density to the composition, isn't there? The subjects almost blend with the street and its facade. Curator: Absolutely. Klein's work often employs such high contrast and somewhat radical cropping to evoke a sense of immediacy. Considering the subject is a Horn & Hardart's Automat, it begs the question, who were these customers? Where were they coming from and going to? Editor: Good questions. As I look at it, I see these layers upon layers of anonymous faces. Almost like processed foods: manufactured, identical, easily purchased, and ready to consume and move along with. Were these images shot in available light? It's so grainy! That aesthetic creates this palpable tension and claustrophobia, right? It speaks to this industrialized, fast-paced lifestyle. Curator: The grain does seem intentional; the process of developing such photographs creates textures that visually correlate to social stratification. In that period, technological development promised prosperity to the American middle and working classes. Did this new consumerism ultimately create a classless society, or did it highlight existing inequities? Editor: It's interesting that you say that because his works make you consider how social relations influence our lives and inform how consumer goods such as meals are purchased and subsequently ingested. It reflects what happens behind the scenes, the means of production—the kitchen staff and other people that make consumerism seamless, available, fast. I guess Klein really gets the viewer thinking! Curator: He truly does. Klein was certainly an artist who wanted us to consider our roles within these complex frameworks of commerce. Editor: Looking closely has provided some serious food for thought.