Jacob Heymann: Butcher Shop, 345 Sixth Avenue after 15

Berenice Abbott captured this photograph of Jacob Heymann's butcher shop on Sixth Avenue, immortalizing a slice of New York life. The overwhelming density of signs, each vying for attention with their prices and promises of quality, speaks volumes. Consider the symbolic weight of the offerings: meats presented as commodities. This act of pricing and displaying cuts of meat dates back to ancient markets. Images of the 'sacrificial animal' were frequent in ancient rituals, offering a symbolic means of connecting with the divine. In our modern world, we encounter an evolution of this symbol. The butcher shop transforms the 'sacrificial animal' into a commodity, devoid of sacred connotation. The photograph captures a shift towards consumerism, a motif that persists today in our supermarkets and culinary displays. The emotional detachment from the origin of the food is a subconscious response to mass consumption. The photograph serves as a mirror, reflecting our evolving relationship with sustenance.