Footsteps, Harlem 1961

Adger Cowans made this photograph, Footsteps, Harlem, using a camera sometime in the twentieth century, and what grabs me first is the way he's managed to make the ordinary feel monumental. Look how the stark black and white tones transform a snowy street into a landscape of subtle contrasts and textures. The snow isn't just a blanket; it's a field of possibilities. The way Cowans captures the soft gradations of light and shadow, you can almost feel the cold, crisp air. Notice the lone figure, bent over, clearing a path. The dark silhouette against the white expanse is so simple, so direct, yet it speaks volumes about resilience and perseverance. It reminds me of some of the graphic starkness of Robert Motherwell, though in a completely different medium, of course, and that makes me think about the art of seeing, no matter the medium.