Paris 1989

Elliott Erwitt made this gelatin silver print, titled "Paris," at an unknown date. Erwitt, known for his candid and often humorous photographs, captures a seemingly mundane street scene, but elevates it through careful composition and timing. Here, a person in a trench coat and sensible shoes stands beside a leaping dog. The dog's upward trajectory and the person's grounded presence create a dynamic contrast, hinting at the social dynamics between humans and animals in urban life. Made in Paris, we might ask, does this image comment on the ways that Parisian society regulates and controls public space, even for pets? The black-and-white medium lends a timeless quality to the image, but also asks us to consider the social documentary aspect of photography. Erwitt's lens frames the everyday, inviting us to reflect on the cultural norms and social structures that shape our experience of the world. To understand this work more fully, one might consider photography journals, sociological studies of pet ownership, and histories of Paris in the modern era.