Cafeteria, New York City 1947

Ted Croner made this photograph, *Cafeteria, New York City*, at an undetermined date. Croner was part of the New York School of photographers in the 1940s and 50s. His atmospheric black and white images captured the energy of urban life, particularly at night. Here, we see a man in a pinstripe suit and fedora, an outfit which speaks to a particular vision of mid-century masculinity. However, the soft focus and grainy texture undermine any straightforward sense of self-assurance. This aesthetic captures a sense of postwar alienation, the tension between the promise of prosperity and the undercurrent of anxiety. The blurred figure in the background adds to this feeling of unease. It’s as if the city's frenetic pace is intruding on a moment of private reflection. Croner’s lens transforms the everyday into a scene of cinematic mystery. He finds beauty in the ephemeral, inviting us to contemplate the hidden stories within the urban landscape.