Manhattan Bridge, Looking Up by Berenice Abbott
10"x8" ($40) | 14"x11" ($85) | 20"x16" ($275) | 24"x20" ($675)
It’s easy to take bridges for granted. We speed across (or more appropriately for New Yorkers, we pay a toll then crawl slowly across) from point A to point B without much thought. But with Berenice Abbott's Manhattan Bridge, Looking Up, we’re once again reminded of the steadfastness and stateliness of bridges: the feats of engineering, their role as literal and symbolic representations of interconnectivity, and all the different ways in which they appear in our lives.
Shot in 1936, Manhattan Bridge, Looking Up sucks us straight in. Abbott’s composition and use of light and line evoke awe of the mechanical structure above. Though we’re used to the Manhattan Bridge being part of the New York City skyline, it was barely thirty years old when Abbott photographed it for her series Changing New York. It certainly must have felt like the city was changing around her as Brooklyn and Manhattan became even more closely connected.
Abbott’s eye-catching photograph is extra special to us here at 20x200 as we peer out at this very structure everyday from HQ. We’ve been nestled under these iconic towers for several years now, surrounded by so many other creative companies and inspiring vistas! And yes, those Washington Street Instagrammers too. 😏
We’re thrilled to add another compelling Berenice Abbott image to our growing collection of Vintage Editions. These images shape our vision of the future and history—and look pretty dang spectacular on our walls as well. Collect Berenice Abbott’s brilliant bridge photograph: Manhattan Bridge, Looking Up.
More work by Berenice Abbott:
