Vintage Photographs of New York City, the current exhibit at the Keith De Lellis Gallery, is recommended primarily for its nostalgic view of a vanished Manhattan. Taken together, the photographs, most of which date from the 1940's and 1950's, provide a loving black & white portrait of New York City at mid-century. It's a milieu instantly recognizable to anyone who's ever watched the film The Naked City on late night television. Unfortunately, though, most of these works lack the drama and intensity of the Weegee images that inspired the movie. The photographers who took them, with a few notable exceptions, are lesser talents and some of the work is not even that well printed.
Among the better known photographers on display is Ansel Adams. Regrettably, his New York (1938) is not a particularly original work. Although the influence of Stieglitz can be seen in the implementation of areas of deep shadow among the skyscrapers, the photo ends up little more than a standard cityscape. Much more engaging is Margaret Bourke-White's New Jersey Entrance to Holland Tunnel (1930) taken from a skewed overhead angle. Berenice Abbott is represented by Facade, Alwyn Court (1938), a vintage print from her series of photos of New York in the 1930's.
Of the lesser known photographs, the most striking is the sepia toned Empire State Building with Dirigible, Anonymous (c. 1931). Flat Iron Building (c. 1955) by David Attie uses some type of device, perhaps a lens filter, to create a pleasing distortion in its depiction of the familiar landmark. Smog Covered Skyline (1966) by Neal Boenzi quite literally achieves an atmospheric effect, but the print itself appears not to have been properly dry mounted and is wrinkled and bent at one corner.
The exhibit continues through November 16, 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment