Lunch Wagon Detail, New York 1931

This photograph of a lunch wagon detail in New York was captured by Walker Evans sometime in the mid-20th century. It's got this beautiful range of grayscale tones, capturing the textures of the painted advertisement. I can imagine the original artist carefully layering each brushstroke, building up the illusion of depth in this roadside mural. What were they thinking as they painted this scene of a couple in transit? Were they aware of the social dynamics they were depicting? Evans, in turn, has a keen eye for these details, noticing the tonal variation of the brushed paint and the slight imperfections in the lines. He’s framing a fragment of everyday life, and it’s so intriguing how the photograph captures another artist's work. This image reminds me of Ed Ruscha's gas stations, and other artists who find inspiration in vernacular scenes. It all makes you think about the conversations artists have with each other, across time and place. There are multiple readings and interpretations that can evolve and change over time.