Man, Five Points Square, New York Possibly 1916 - 1917

Paul Strand made this photograph, "Man, Five Points Square, New York", using gelatin silver. Look at the way the light kind of pools around the man's face, especially under the brim of his hat, creating these zones of stark contrast. It's like the light itself is a physical substance, almost like a veil. The texture in this photograph is just unreal. You can almost feel the grit of the man's skin, the coarse fabric of his coat, and the worn texture of his hat. The way Strand captures these details is so direct and intimate. He's not trying to pretty things up or hide the wear and tear of life; instead, he is embracing it. Consider how this contrasts with someone like Stieglitz, who was also exploring photography as an art form around the same time, but with a very different agenda. Strand's work feels more grounded, more connected to the everyday struggles of ordinary people. He sees the beauty in the mundane, the poetry in the imperfect. That’s what really resonates with me.