Water Tower and Radio City, New York 1933

Alfred Stieglitz made this photograph, Water Tower and Radio City, New York, with gelatin silver. He was interested in the way a photograph could reflect the changing face of modern America. The grey scale is gentle, and it offers subtle gradients in place of dramatic contrasts. The surface of the building below the water tower is particularly interesting. It’s got this cracked, crazed texture, a bit like old, dried paint, and it almost overwhelms the geometry of the building. I wonder if Stieglitz noticed that quality too? I’m reminded of Rauschenberg's white paintings. The surface feels alive and invites closer inspection. The detail of the water tower is also striking – the wood feels sturdy and practical, contrasting with the anonymity of the skyscraper behind. Stieglitz was part of a big conversation with other artists, particularly the European modernists, about what art could be. He found something beautiful in the everyday grit of the city.