The Asphalt Paver Possibly 1892 - 1932

"The Asphalt Paver" is a striking photo by Alfred Stieglitz, likely taken between 1892 and 1932. The black and white photograph captures the stark reality of urban development with its focus on a steam-powered asphalt paver, shrouded in a billowing cloud of smoke. Stieglitz, a pioneer of Pictorialism, often used his photography to document the changing urban landscape of New York City. The photograph's composition, with its strong diagonal lines and sense of depth, highlights the industrial process in a way that is both gritty and visually compelling.