[Street scene in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Curator: This artwork, held here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Street scene in Lübeck" and is attributed to Laurence Feininger. Editor: It evokes such a stark, almost ghostly ambiance with its high contrast and elongated shadows dominating the narrow street. Curator: Indeed. The architecture itself—notice the steeply gabled roofs and close-set windows—lends itself to a certain claustrophobia, perhaps reflecting the limitations imposed on everyday life at the time. Editor: Or perhaps Feininger, as a figure interested in sacred music, intended to create a meditation on the interplay between light and dark, symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil within the human soul. Curator: A compelling interpretation! Ultimately, it is the dynamism of the photographic texture and composition that leaves a lasting impression. Editor: I'm left wondering about the stories of the people who walked this street.