Wall Street, 1915 by Paul Strand

Paul Strand's "Wall Street, 1915"

Paul Strand was an American photographer born in New York City. He studied under Lewis Hine (the photojournalist).

Paul Strand successfully sought out details in an everyday situation, and was able to turn the photograph its self into a real life translation into abstract art that captured energy and movement. Strands framing is spot on, the diagonal lines and partial shapes create a sense of forward movement. The actual situation is simply people walking down a street, the image its self is of movement and energy.  Details like the forward action of the people, shadows jetting backward, and perspectives moving back into space all give the feeling of movement. In all Wall Street is the ideal example of photographic abstraction and realist cubism.