Berenice Abbott’s return to New York City in 1929 after working as a studio assistant for Eugène Atget signaled an important turning point in her career. After living in Paris for two years, she found herself looking at New York with fresh eyes. In 1929, Abbott began working on Changing New York, a project that chronicled the changing face of the city, in many ways similar to how Atget had photographed old-world Paris. Her personal approach, however, differed from that of her mentor. Abbott’s objective was twofold: to photograph the elevated train tracks, brownstones, parks, and family businesses dotting each neighborhood from the sidewalk, and to climb the newly-built skyscrapers in order to show what the city looked like from above. She took this stunning image from the 102-floor Empire State Building, capturing a city at a turning point in which man-made structures would forever dwarf its inhabitants.

This is a genuine vintage photogravure, printed in 1935 and has the fantastic warmth and tonal range of a platinum print.

Archivally mounted on 100% acid-free board, matted to 11" x 14" and in a black wooden frame.