Thomas Struth, a leading contemporary artist, is rightfully a citizen of the world. Born in Germany in 1954, he is well traveled, as he continues to photograph people and places around the globe. Struth began his career in the mid-1970's photographing the streets of European cities such as London, Paris, and his hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany. In 1978, Struth came to New York on a scholarship and made dozens of black-and-white images of streets all over the city from the same centralized perspective.

By using this impersonal, middle-of-the-intersection viewpoint over and over, Struth wanted to make us aware that we are looking at a picture made by a machine, and for us to compare how each street differs from the others. The images are clear and detailed so that our attention is focused both on the texture and geometry of the buildings individually as well as the shape and space of the street as a whole. As you look at the twelve photographs featured in this section, questions about the buildings, their history, and their relationship to one another as well as to their street may come to mind. Notice how human beings are unusually absent from these works. Struth intentionally photographed the city early in the morning before its streets were teeming with people. You cannot help but wonder where these people are and how different the photographs would be if they were present.

Learn more about the exhibition, Thomas Struth.

The first, third, and fourth images are on display in the Howard Gilman Gallery on the second floor.