Wall Street 1925

Editor: So, this lithograph is called "Wall Street," created in 1925 by Arnold Rönnebeck. The towering buildings and dramatic use of light give it a somewhat claustrophobic, almost oppressive feeling. What do you make of its message? Curator: That feeling of oppression is key, especially if we consider the context of the Roaring Twenties. Rönnebeck's stark lines and towering structures aren't just celebrating urban progress, they're also hinting at the potentially dehumanizing aspects of capitalism, right? Look how the buildings seem to dwarf any potential human presence. Do you see any people? Editor: No, not at all. It's just buildings, angles and light. That absence is striking now that you point it out. Curator: Exactly. It evokes the experience of alienation within modern structures of power, that we were, and perhaps are still, trying to find meaning in a rapidly changing world. We should ask ourselves about whose experiences get amplified versus erased within systems. Are the shadows darker in some places than others, in the work but also more broadly? Editor: That’s fascinating. I was initially focused on the style – the sharp lines of Art Deco and Expressionism mixed together. But viewing it through a lens of social commentary adds so much more depth. It feels a lot less celebratory now. Curator: Art is rarely just one thing, is it? Style serves meaning. What new interpretations might the next generation bring to this image? Editor: That's true, it definitely encourages thinking beyond face value and probing at power dynamics. Thanks!