Untitled (exterior of brick building, store front windows, street, trolley cars) c. 1940

Editor: This photograph by Harris & Ewing captures an imposing brick building with streetcars and bustling storefronts. The sharp contrast makes the image feel very structured. What do you make of the composition? Curator: Note how the rigid geometry of the building dominates the frame. The photographer has employed linear perspective, drawing the eye along the converging lines of the street and emphasizing the building's verticality. What does this structured composition evoke for you? Editor: A sense of order, but also perhaps the overwhelming nature of urban life. Curator: Precisely. The repetitive patterns of the windows create a sense of scale and complexity. I agree; the composition underscores the experience of the individual within a modern metropolis. Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective. I hadn’t considered how the building's scale impacts the viewer.