New York City 2000

Curator: In front of us is Elliott Erwitt's "New York City" taken in 2000, a study in contrasts. It’s monochrome street photography at its best, captured with Erwitt’s signature wit. Editor: Woof. Sorry, but that’s my immediate reaction. The…what’s the best way to put it? The anthropomorphic nature of this is off the charts. Melancholy and ironic at the same time. Curator: Irony is definitely one of Erwitt's calling cards. Think about it: We have two bulldogs perched on steps, with one almost…melded?…to the seated figure. Erwitt consistently explored the human condition through dogs. Editor: Exactly! And that placement...it’s masterful. The figure and dogs occupy this threshold, this liminal space, perfectly mirroring that ambiguous feeling. Like, is this staged? Candid? It messes with your head! It kind of satirizes our perception of public and private roles doesn't it? I mean are they waiting for someone or taking a pause in the day? Curator: Erwitt always played with perception. Here, the black and white intensifies the documentary feel. But it also lends a timelessness to the work. Consider the stoic expression on both dogs. It’s like they’ve seen it all, which of course they probably have living in a city. It almost gives them an omniscient status. Editor: Absolutely. It’s almost like the dogs are a commentary on our obsession with pets as stand-ins for human connection. Also, the image’s composition contributes so much. Look at the lines and the shadow play...it keeps our eye moving throughout. And that little sign partially in the frame near the second bulldog adds this almost chaotic vibe. "No Wash or Dry," but it suggests at a certain lack of pretension. It adds to the reality. It makes it real. Curator: The image exists so playfully and naturally that we are drawn in. It holds an entire world for contemplation in this scene, both intimate and observational. Editor: A melancholic symphony, played out on a New York stoop. I find myself both amused and slightly unsettled by it all. Curator: Which, in my opinion, is the perfect sweet spot for truly captivating art. Editor: Couldn’t have said it better myself. The way that dogs reflect back at our expectations is something of a wonder here.