Wet Night, Columbus Circle, New York c. 1897

Here is the audio guide script for the provided artwork: This gelatin silver print, titled "Wet Night, Columbus Circle, New York," captures a scene shrouded in mist and mystery. Fraser invites us into a world where the stark verticality of bare trees and a distant monument pierce the veil of the night. The trees, reaching skyward, evoke the classical symbol of the Tree of Life, yet here, stripped bare, they also resonate with themes of mortality. Consider the obelisk in the background—a form that dates back to ancient Egypt, symbolizing the sun god Ra and resurrection. Its presence in a modern urban landscape creates a dialogue between past and present, sacred and secular. The wetness of the night amplifies the ephemeral nature of the scene, engaging our subconscious with the fluid and transformative power of water. This element, both cleansing and chaotic, has coursed through art history, carrying emotional and psychological associations from baptismal fonts to Deluge narratives. The symbolism within this photograph reflects a cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving in new contexts, continually engaging us in a dance between memory and the present moment.