New York I Possibly 1951 - 1975

Aaron Siskind's "New York I," made in 1951, arrests our gaze through its stark composition, where bold masses of black and delicate constellations of white punctuate the surface. The photograph's composition, divided horizontally, sets a stage for the interplay between form and void. Siskind was deeply engaged with the ideas of abstract expressionism, viewing the urban landscape as a canvas for exploring form and texture. The high-contrast image is not merely a depiction of New York, but an exploration of its visual architecture. The interplay of light and shadow transforms the city into a semiotic space, where each form signifies more than its literal presence. The image teeters on the edge of abstraction, suggesting a space where representation destabilizes and fixed meanings dissolve. The photograph invites us to ponder the relationship between the real and the represented, the concrete and the abstract. Through this, Siskind challenges us to see beyond the surface and engage with the deeper structures that shape our perception.