New York City Possibly 1950 - 1990

Louis Faurer made this photograph, “New York City”, using gelatin silver. Faurer's work provides a street-level view of mid-20th century urban life. Here, the theatrical makeup and costumes worn by the figures evoke the carnivalesque atmosphere of New York, but also perhaps, a darker side of the city, where social alienation and economic disparity can lead people to adopt roles or masks in order to cope with everyday realities. Faurer’s photographs captured an era of great social change in America. His work has always explored themes of individual identity and marginalization within the urban landscape. The institutional history of photography is relevant here, as Faurer’s work challenged established norms of the documentary tradition, which often focused on grand narratives of progress. Historians use a variety of resources to research this artwork, from artist’s biographies and exhibition reviews to urban studies and social theory, and try to understand not just what is depicted, but how the image functions as a cultural artifact.