Gezicht op het hoofdkwartier van de Verenigde Naties aan de East River in Manhattan, New York Possibly 1950 - 1952

This black and white photograph captures the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York, likely in the early 1950s. It embodies the aspirations and anxieties of the post-World War II era. The UN building, still under construction, symbolizes a hopeful, if fragile, new world order. The choice of New York as its location is no accident. It marks America’s ascendance as a global power and the center of international diplomacy. Yet, the lone figure on the bench reminds us of the individual amidst these grand geopolitical projects. Is this person hopeful, or apprehensive? As historians, we can delve into archives, policy documents, and personal accounts to better understand the complex interplay of power, architecture, and individual experience captured in this image. We can appreciate art as a product of particular social and institutional conditions.