When the Flatiron Building opened in 1902, this graceful steel-frame skyscraper was a symbol of 20th century urban power and progress.
Two years later, pioneering photographer Edward Steichen created this photo of the Flatiron. He gave the image a blue glow during printing to make it evocative of twilight. And with the tree branches and puddles of rain in the foreground, he juxtaposed the made-made tower with powerful elements of the natural world.
“Steichen may have been drawing on his knowledge of Japanese prints, in which similar natural and built features exist harmoniously,” states this Middlebury College Museum of Art page. Japanese woodblock prints were all the rage at the time.
[Photo: Metmuseum]
Tags: early photos of New York Streets, Edward Steichen, Edward Steichen Flatiron Building, Flatiron Building at night, Flatiron Building early photos, New York in 1900s
October 22, 2018 at 11:26 am |
Reblogged this on Bobbi's Blog.
October 23, 2018 at 11:17 pm |
Beautiful photo.
October 24, 2018 at 1:15 am |
Wow! That is such a good photo it looks like a painting 🙂
Wonderful image
October 28, 2018 at 9:19 pm |
I’d love to have this photo on my wall — it looks as if people are in a boat.
November 10, 2018 at 6:38 pm |
Reblogged this on Shensea.
November 13, 2018 at 3:42 am |
Fantastic photo of one of my favorite New York buildings.