Downstairs c. 1948

Elisabeth Hase's "Downstairs" (c. 1948) is a stark black and white photograph that captures a woman in a moment of awkwardness as she attempts to recover from a stumble on a set of stairs. The photograph, taken from an elevated perspective, emphasizes the woman's precarious position and the gravity of the situation, with her hat askew and her handbag falling away from her grasp. Hase's minimalist style and use of negative space underscore the vulnerability of the subject, making it a compelling study of human movement and the unexpected nature of everyday events.