New York 38 1978

Aaron Siskind made this photograph, New York 38, sometime in the middle of the 20th century. It's a black and white image, close-up, all about texture. The surface, probably a weathered wooden structure, fills the frame with its horizontal grain. Then, slicing in from the side, we have a diagonal splinter or support, nailed in place. The grain here runs vertically. Look at the contrast in texture! This simple geometry creates a composition, a kind of accidental abstract painting. I think Siskind really nails it, if you’ll pardon the pun! Siskind was part of the Abstract Expressionist movement. He saw the potential for abstraction in everyday scenes. His photographs invite you to see the world with fresh eyes, finding beauty in the mundane. This reminds me of the painter, Cy Twombly. He also made abstract artworks, not of paint, but of found material. Both artists find the extraordinary in the ordinary.