New York City 1953

Elliott Erwitt made this photograph, New York City, with a camera at an unknown date. Looking at the textures in this image, the soft gradations of grey, I get a sense of how Erwitt builds up tone in layers. There's something about the way he captures the slumbering figures which suggests a process of patient observation. The almost velvety blacks of the cat in the foreground contrast with the light tones of the bedsheets and the woman's checked dress. Her head rests against the pillow, the fabric pulled taut and flat against the mattress. Notice the smooth curve of her head in contrast with the angularity of the patterned fabric of her clothes. This brings to mind other photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, who were interested in capturing intimate moments of daily life. Both artists remind us that photography, at its best, is about more than just documentation, it's about creating feeling.