At Play 1938

Arthur Ellis made this photograph, "At Play," at an unknown date, using gelatin silver print. It's striking how Ellis used the contrast of light and shadow. It’s not just about capturing a scene but about seeing how light transforms ordinary moments into something abstract and engaging. The texture created by the shadows of the bars and the children playing feels almost tactile. The way the light catches the edges, creating a stark contrast, gives the image a dynamic, energetic feel. Look at how each shadow cast by the bars is slightly different, giving a sense of depth and movement. It reminds me of some of the abstract expressionists, like Franz Kline, who were also interested in the interplay of black and white and the gestural quality of line. Ellis’s work, like Kline’s, embraces ambiguity, and invites us to find our own meaning within the image.