Urban Landscape, Los Angeles 1990

Franco Fontana's photograph captures an abstract view of Los Angeles architecture. Fontana is known for his vibrant, color-saturated landscapes and cityscapes, taken during a time when color photography was still gaining acceptance in the art world. The photograph presents the urban environment as a study in geometry and color. The high-key color palette is reminiscent of the bold aesthetic prevalent in Southern California, reflecting a culture known for its optimism and vibrancy. The sharp lines and angular forms reduce the buildings to basic shapes, divorcing them from their practical function. This abstraction invites us to see beyond the surface, to consider the underlying structures that shape our lived environment. In this way, the photograph captures the tension between the individual and the built environment. We are left to ponder how these colorful, yet impersonal, structures affect the human experience within the city.