Start van de bouw van het stalen framewerk van het hoofdkwartier van de Verenigde Naties in Manhattan, New York Possibly 1949

Editor: We're looking at a gelatin-silver print from possibly 1949, taken anonymously. It captures the beginning stages of building the UN Headquarters in Manhattan. The monochrome gives it such a raw, industrial feel, and you can really sense the scale. What captures your attention when you look at this, knowing its subject? Curator: Oh, this photograph whispers stories of optimism, doesn’t it? Raw steel reaching for the sky, draped with the UN flag… It's a bold statement about unity in a post-war world. For me, it’s a powerful emblem of ambition mixed with vulnerability. Look at those workers, perched precariously – they’re building more than just a structure, they're literally holding up an ideal. It makes me wonder about their hopes and dreams for that future. What does that symbolism strike in you? Editor: I guess the danger element does resonate, that risk for the sake of progress and global unity, as you say. Curator: Exactly. And that raw, unpolished aesthetic – that's constructionism seeping through, celebrating industry and human capability. It's all about forward motion. Even the cityscape blurs in the background, the focus is firmly on that steel spine and the promise it represents. It’s easy to look back with cynicism but imagine the spirit of this moment. Editor: I see that hope you talk about, much more clearly now. It is almost defiant in its optimism. Thanks for shining a light on this piece. Curator: My pleasure! It's always amazing how much depth you can find in a seemingly simple historical photo like this. Isn't that part of the joy of art?