Movable Bridge, New York, New York Possibly 1990 - 2020

James Welling made this photograph, Movable Bridge, New York, New York, using gelatin silver print. The stark contrasts, the way light and shadow play across the steel girders, create a complex pattern that's both architectural and strangely abstract. There's a kind of physicality here, despite the flatness of the photograph; you can almost feel the weight of the bridge, the coldness of the metal. The lattice-like structures dominating the image remind me of Eva Hesse’s sculptures, both artists transform industrial materials into something deeply evocative and personal. Note the repeating X shapes, they give it a certain rhythm. It makes me think about the industrial revolution and the way industry has shaped our landscape and also our way of seeing. Ultimately, this photograph embraces ambiguity. It’s a bridge, yes, but it’s also a study in form, texture, and the poetics of industrial space. It reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher who photographed industrial structures but Welling brings something more emotional to it, a certain haunting beauty.