The Dead Man's Wife Arrived and Then She Collapsed c. 1940

Weegee, known for his stark black and white photographs of crime scenes in New York City, captured this dramatic moment in 1940. The image depicts a woman collapsing as police officers try to support her. Weegee's signature style, characterized by high contrast and dramatic lighting, effectively conveys the tension and immediacy of the event. The composition emphasizes the figures and their interactions, creating a sense of urgency and voyeurism. Weegee’s work, often described as "photojournalism" and "street photography," offered a glimpse into the underbelly of the city, capturing both the beauty and the brutality of urban life.