Manhattan c. 1928

Walker Evans made this photograph called 'Manhattan' with a camera and film, though we don’t know exactly when. It's like a study in contrasts – the stark, unadorned metal framework of a billboard against the ghostly traces of advertisements. I'm drawn to how Evans captures the material reality of the city. The cool tones of grey and the gritty texture make me think about the physicality of urban life. There’s a tension here between the heavy, industrial structure and the ephemeral nature of advertising. The shadows cast on the ground add another layer, turning the pavement into a canvas. Look at the way the light catches the edges of the metal beams. It’s almost sculptural, creating a kind of abstract composition within the larger image. For me this is a fascinating study of form and texture, reminiscent of some of the industrial landscapes painted by Charles Sheeler, though Evans finds something human in the mechanical.