Paris Street #2 n.d.

Nathan Lerner created this gelatin silver print, titled "Paris Street #2," sometime in the twentieth century. Lerner, born to Jewish immigrants in Chicago, used photography to explore the urban landscape and the lives of those often unseen. This image invites us into a quiet Parisian street, slick with rain. The cobblestones reflect the muted light, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. In the distance, two figures walk away from the viewer, their presence adding a sense of scale and solitude. Lerner was deeply influenced by the New Bauhaus movement, which emphasized the integration of art, technology, and social awareness. Consider the social context: urban spaces are rarely neutral. Who is allowed to occupy them freely, and who is marginalized? What stories do these streets hold? Lerner’s lens asks us to reflect on the intersection of place, identity, and the human experience.