Shorty, the Bowery Cherub, New Year's Eve at Sammy's Bar 1943

Weegee snapped "Shorty, the Bowery Cherub, New Year's Eve at Sammy's Bar," likely with his trusty Speed Graphic camera, capturing a slice of life in 1940s New York. The stark black and white gives it a documentary feel, but there's something so performative about this image, like it's lit for a play. Look at the way the flash bounces off everything, flattening the space, except for Shorty’s figure, caught in the act of celebration. The textures are raw – from the rough grain of the print to the gritty floor, the slightly dark pint that he has halfway to his mouth, up to the '1943' on his party hat, everything feels immediate and real. The light exposes every detail, unflinchingly. The contrast between Shorty's bare skin and the formally dressed folks surrounding him says a lot about visibility, who gets seen, and how. Weegee, like Diane Arbus later, had a knack for finding these intense, unforgettable moments. It feels like a punch and a wink at the same time.