Near Moscow, USSR 1966

Elliott Erwitt's black and white photograph, "Near Moscow, USSR", taken in 1966, portrays a stark scene of a solitary figure standing next to a map, overlooking a rectangular plot of land marked with numbered stakes. Erwitt, a renowned photographer known for his candid, often humorous street photography, captures the unsettling atmosphere of the location, highlighting the tension of the Cold War era. The minimalist composition, devoid of detail in the background, focuses solely on the figure and the plot, leaving the viewer to contemplate the intended use of this space.