Bridgeport, Connecticut 1941

Walker Evans made this photograph in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and like much of his work, it's deceptively simple. What grabs me here is the contrast between the two figures. Evans has really captured a moment, hasn’t he? The way the light falls, creating these deep shadows, almost feels like a painting. Look at the man on the right, the sharp angles of his suit jacket against the soft, crumpled paper bag he’s holding. And then there's the other guy, more weathered, more worn down. It's this gritty realism that makes Evans so compelling. The tonal range is just brilliant. Evans reminds me a little of Eugène Atget, capturing everyday scenes with such honesty. Both show us the beauty in the mundane. It's this raw, unvarnished look at American life that makes his work so timeless.