Thomas Struth (German, b.1954). Crosby Street, Soho, New York, 1978. Gelatin silver print; 11 5/8 x 16 in. (29.5 x 40.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Henry S. Hacker, 1982 (1982.1053.1). © Thomas Struth
«While browsing through the Met's Collection Online, I stumbled upon the work of photographer Thomas Struth, who takes captivating photographs of public spaces around the world. Living in New York, I was especially drawn to the relatability of his photograph Crosby Street, Soho, New York. »
Crosby Street is a street in SoHo that I'm sure many people have walked by without even thinking about its potential as art. However, Struth was able to turn this regular street into a striking cityscape. Taken from a central vantage point, the photograph makes the viewer feel as though they are on the street.
I was truly inspired by Struth's technique and wanted to try it out myself, so I took a trip to Crosby Street to see what it looked like in real life, and realized that Struth's photo was remarkably timeless. In order to not replicate his photo exactly, I took a picture of the opposite side of street, which would have been behind him when he took the photo. I did this in an effort to show a continuation of his practice and a time-lapse of this neighborhood.
Chris N. Untitled, 2015
Artists like Thomas Struth inspire young artists like myself to continue making work that helps bring awareness to the world's subtle beauty.