The Park Row Building c. 1910

Alvin Langdon Coburn made this photograph of The Park Row Building. Look at how the city emerges from the tones and shades of gray. It’s as if the building is breathing, surrounded by a soft cloud of smoke. The geometry of the architecture is softened by a sense of atmosphere. I can imagine Coburn carefully adjusting his camera, waiting for the right moment when the light and smoke would come together to create this image. It reminds me of the work of other early photographers who were experimenting with capturing the fleeting moments of modern life. Photographs like this can be thought of as part of an ongoing conversation between artists across different mediums, each finding new ways to see and represent the world around us. It reminds us that art is never static, and artists continually inspire each other to push boundaries and explore new possibilities.