The Flatiron Building

The Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building, as it was originally called, is located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, New York City and is considered to be a groundbreaking skyscraper. Upon completion in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in the city and the only skyscraper north of 14th Street. Building has become an icon representative of New York City, but the critical response to it at the time was not completely positive.

The Flatiron was to attract the attention of numerous artists.

Alfred Stieglitz, ‘The Flatiron’ 1903

You can see dominating trees in first three photos, which were done in first decade of 20th century. Photos were done from same angle and maybe from the same place – park before the building. Flatiron in low contrast and there is shallow depth of field. However Stieglitz picture was taken in cold winter and have connection with nature. American modernism conveys indirectly link with nature.

In Steichen image we can find a lot mystery. Evening, can feel coldness from the blue tone. Couple small lamps, human silhouettes and big trees branch dwarf this huge building, however it shows nowhere else seen mystery building. Image is quiet dark and got a lot shadows.

 Edward Steichen, ‘The Flatiron, New York’, 1905

Alvin Langdon Coburn, ‘The Flatiron Building’, 1911

Composition is very similar to previous pictures. City is alive – you can see it from people movement. They are rushing home after work in evening time. Still contrast is flat. Depth of field shallow as well and focus is around the light, so humans are in blur. 

Walter Gropius, ‘The Flatiron Building, New York’, 1928

Picture of Gropius is completely different from Colburn, Steichen and Stieglitz. Foremost angle view is not from the eye level. In this image view is from the bottom to the top. It gives for to Flatiron power.  Better shallow field and contrast. 

Walker Evans, ‘Flatiron Building seen from below, New York City’, 1928-1929

Evans photo reminds documentary stylistics. We can see high contrast between sky and building. Here Flatiron is shown in very elegance way. We can see only part of the building. But some details of others buildings and roofs gives to Flatiron majesty. There are sharp details and much larger depth of field than in previous pictures. 

Berenice Abbott, ‘The Flatiron Building’, 1938

The last picture done by Abbott is the youngest in this series. We see amazingly large depth of field, sharp details and high contrast. Got similarity to Gropius image. Small building standing near Flatiron once more proves how big this New York icon is.

Following all these six images we can see how photography style was changing in this 30 years period. From very mystery images, to sharp and detailed documentary pictures. Actually by the time more was looking to building majority and were given more space for the sky.