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September 19, 2003
The Beauty of Bridges
There's an interesting piece in the City Lore section of the NYTimes entitled The Ansel Adams of New York City Bridges.
The article focuses on the artist Eugene de Salignac, who for over 30 years produced some 20,000 images (about two-thirds of the entire Bridges, Plant and Structures collection) of the construction, repairs, and renovations of New York City bridges.
Says Rasenberger, author of the article:
The negatives are windows onto the city's past. Pull them from their sleeves, hold them to the light, and New York in its bursting adolescence emerges from the dark stains of emulsion. Half-made bridges swoop across the skyline at the rim of the city, amid a bustle of steam-powered derricks and streetcars, of horse wagons laden with wooden barrels and one-legged newsboys hawking newspapers. Taken together, the photographs document a city in the throes of transition, turning fast from cobblestones and horses to steel and automobiles.
What a beautiful description. And some incredibly beautiful images. The Municipal Archives is currently preparing a monograph of his work for publication, however you can see a selection of his images at the archive's online photo gallery.
Personally, I'm excited for Jim Rasenberger's book, High Steel: The Daring Men Who Built the World's Greatest Skyline to come out next year.
Posted by callalillie at September 19, 2003 8:23 AM | Visual Musings
Saw your reference, belatedly, to my Times piece on the bridge photographer Eugene de Salignac. So glad you took note of it and enjoyed it-- thank you! Your site is terrific, very smart and refreshing. All best to you-- and good luck with your work with public schools; as the father of twin second graders, I'm delighted to know a bright mind like yours is on the case.
Jim Rasenberger
Posted by: Jim Rasenberger at November 20, 2003 1:51 PM
