On the Bowery (liquor store) 1971

Curator: This is Edward Grazda's "On the Bowery (liquor store)," part of our collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s a stark image. The high contrast and the man’s stooped posture really convey a sense of bleakness. Curator: The Bowery, historically a marginalized district in Lower Manhattan, serves as the backdrop. Grazda captures the everyday struggles of those living on the margins. Editor: The composition's fascinating. The liquor bottles in the window almost create a barrier, reflecting and distorting the outside world. Curator: The liquor store becomes symbolic, representing both escape and the harsh realities of poverty and addiction experienced by many in the area. It really invites reflections on social inequality. Editor: I agree. The framing, the grey tonality—it’s all meticulously orchestrated to emphasize the subject’s isolation. It speaks volumes through its formal qualities.