Skyscrapers, New York Possibly 1978 - 1979

This photograph, Skyscrapers, New York, was made by Harry Callahan sometime in the mid-twentieth century. It’s a colour photograph – quite muted, actually, but the colours give the buildings a real sense of weight. I wonder what Callahan was thinking when he made this. Was he trying to capture the feeling of being surrounded by these huge structures, all those rectangles stacked on top of each other? The way the buildings seem to press in on you – it reminds me of being a kid and feeling small in a big city. You know, it’s interesting how Callahan uses the different tones and textures to create depth. The buildings in the background almost seem to fade away, while the ones in the front are so sharp and clear. He reminds me a bit of painters like Edward Hopper, who also found beauty in everyday urban scenes. All these artists are in an ongoing conversation, aren’t they? Each one inspiring the next to see the world in a new way.