Ray K. Metzker's 58 AM-19, Chicago - Non Loop (1958)

This striking gelatin silver print presents a masterful study in chiaroscuro —the dramatic interplay of light and shadow that became Metzker's signature. Laundry hanging on a line creates bold silhouettes against a tiled wall, transforming an ordinary domestic scene into near-abstraction. The image reveals sophisticated understanding of light's sculptural potential in urban environments.

Metzker's technical precision achieves sharp delineation between light and shadow through meticulous exposure and printing techniques. The high contrast serves as architectural deconstruction, breaking down urban environments into essential geometric components. This exemplifies his early fascination with "photographic form"—the idea that the medium itself could be the subject, not merely documentation.

Ray K. Metzker (1931-2014) created this work while pursuing his Master's degree at the Institute of Design, studying under legendary photographers Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind from 1956 to 1959.

The Institute, originally founded as the New Bauhaus by László Moholy-Nagy, fostered experimental approaches that proved crucial to Metzker's artistic evolution.

His approach reflected Bauhaus philosophy emphasizing geometric forms and integration of craft with artistic expression. The work demonstrates his ability to discover unexpected beauty in everyday urban landscapes, a theme that would persist throughout his career.

As Metzker noted, he took "what they presented—delicate moments—unadorned and unglamorous, yet tender and exquisite".

"58 AM-19" represents an important moment in American photography's development, created when artists pushed the medium's boundaries.

Metzker's work influenced generations of photographers exploring photography's potential for abstraction and emotional expression, helping redefine the relationship between documentation and artistic vision.

His experimental approach to black and white photography established him as one of the great masters of American photography.