A Street in China 1912

Adolph de Meyer probably made this photograph in a dark room, manipulating light to conjure a street scene in China. It feels like he coaxed the image out of the shadows. I imagine de Meyer, fascinated by the play of light and shadow, patiently waiting for the right moment to capture this scene. What was he thinking as he framed this composition? Was he trying to capture a fleeting moment of everyday life, or something deeper about the human condition? Look at how the light catches the edges of the man’s hat, and the way his shadow stretches long on the ground. Notice how the shapes of the objects hanging from his shoulder pole are almost abstract, almost like geometric forms floating in space. I am always amazed at the creative conversation artists have with each other across time, always finding new ways to express themselves.