Rommelmarkt in Turku, Finland 1930

This black and white photograph, Rommelmarkt in Turku, Finland, was captured by László Moholy-Nagy at an unknown date. You can tell the artist was interested in structure - the way lines can create angles, the way shapes and tones fill the plane. What strikes me in this photo are the contrasts - the harsh, angled shadows falling across the ground, the solid forms of the women juxtaposed against the jumble of items for sale. Look at how Moholy-Nagy frames the scene - the items in the foreground feel tactile, while the figures seem distant and untouchable. Notice the basket in the bottom right corner, overflowing with hats, set against the shadows beneath the table. Moholy-Nagy was known for his experimental approach to photography, often playing with light and shadow. If you get the chance, check out some of his other street photography, like the images he made in Marseilles. You’ll see he’s working with similar themes and formal strategies, even though the places and the subjects are different. For Moholy-Nagy, photography was all about opening up new ways of seeing.