Untitled (Overhead view of men conversing on street) c. 1920s

This small gelatin silver print captures an overhead view of men conversing on a street, and its anonymous maker reminds me that artmaking is about what you see, and how you decide to frame it. The composition is striking, almost like a stage set, with the figures arranged in a dynamic yet frozen tableau. One man gestures, maybe explaining something, while another lies prone on the ground, creating an interesting tension. Look at the surface texture – the graininess of the silver gelatin, the way light catches the concrete, rendering everything in shades of grey and brown. This isn’t about slick perfection; it's about the raw, unfiltered reality of a moment. There's a strange intimacy in this candid shot, like peeking into a private world. It reminds me that art doesn't always need a famous name or a grand statement. Sometimes, it's the simple act of bearing witness that makes it meaningful. Like the work of Lisette Model, it embraces the everyday, transforming ordinary scenes into something compelling and mysterious.