Reclame voor de Fire Insurance New York Underwriters Agency met een foto van brand 1905

This photograph, taken by De Witt C. Wheeler, captured a crowd watching a fire in New York City. The limited colour palette and tone gives it a graphic quality, much like a print. The photo has a rich, grainy texture and its surface creates a sense of immediacy, as if we're right there in the crowd. My attention is drawn to the smoke billowing out of the building, partly obscuring the architecture behind. It’s a messy, chaotic, and ephemeral form set against the rigid geometry of the buildings. The contrast reminds me of the fleeting nature of life. The photo is a great example of how images can be both documentary and expressive. It makes me think of the work of Walker Evans, in that its straightforward approach makes it a powerful commentary on its subject. And like all great art, it leaves you with more questions than answers.