Todd Webb (American, 1905-2000)
Grand Street Station, 1946
Photograph
20 x 16 in Gift of Vincent Mastrata
Todd Webb’s Grand Street Station captures a glimpse of a seemingly quiet New York City – a lack of people, a still train, a hazy sky frozen in motion. The photograph itself, taken in 1946 and one of Webb’s many photos of everyday life in New York, depicts the since-closed Grand Street train station of Manhattan. The absence of color is both captivating and dimming, and the soft blurriness keeps only the front lamppost in focus (if only slightly). Lines dominate the piece: from horizontal (the slats of the boardwalk, for example), to vertical (the lampposts and windows of the buildings), to curved (the train tracks). Put together, the lines convey a sense of motion, beckoning you forward into the foggy distance. Instead of the typical New York City bustle, the image highlights a rare calm among the crowded storm through the absence of people. It merely suggests the idea of a constantly-moving city rather than showing it overtly.
When picking a piece for ArtMate (Davidson College Art Galleries’ art lending program for student dorms) I was instantly drawn to this image, even though it was hidden in the bottom corner of the wall. Having visited New York over the summer, I missed the rush and excitement of the city. This photograph appealed to my nostalgia and longing for vacation. The idea of travelling called out to me too, which paralleled the changes of my own life (i.e., travelling for college and leaving home). I hope that, by seeing this photograph when I wake up each morning, it will remind me of the transitive seasons of life, my memories of time spent in New York, and the idea that life keeps moving forward, with new and exciting destinations along the way. Movement does not need to mean fear, but instead adventure, wonderment, and distant mysteries to explore. To me, Grand Street Station suggests a sense of hope and determination for this bright, forward-moving future, a constant reminder that there is so much awaiting me.
– Gaby Sanclimenti ’25