Street Map (#7) Possibly 1989 - 1994

Jim Goldberg made this black and white photograph, Street Map #7, sometime in the late twentieth century. The image depicts a woman blowing a bubble with gum, her face caught in a moment of casual self-possession. Goldberg's work is steeped in the social documentary tradition, a mode of photography that arose in the early twentieth century to record and comment on social conditions. This image captures the alienation and anonymity of modern urban life. The darkness, broken by the bright lights of the city, creates a stark contrast, highlighting the subject's isolation even within a crowd. The woman’s bubblegum could be seen as a symbol of ephemeral pleasure, a fleeting moment of joy in a world of uncertainty. What makes this image so powerful is its ability to evoke a sense of empathy and connection with a complete stranger. Through close attention to these details, and by examining Goldberg's other projects, we can more fully understand the social commentary embedded in this photograph.