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O. Winston Link — RR Cross Ties Drying in the Sun and Air, Bossier City, Louisiana
O. Winston Link

RR Cross Ties Drying in the Sun and Air, Bossier City, Louisiana

1950

O. Winston Link's "RR Cross Ties Drying in the Sun and Air, Bossier City, Louisiana" from 1950 transforms a utilitarian subject into a compelling study of form and light. This vintage gelatin silver print presents a tightly composed, upward-angled view of stacked railroad ties, creating a powerful interplay of diagonal lines and repetitive geometric shapes. The rough texture of the wood, with its visible grain and weathered surfaces, is rendered with meticulous detail, inviting close examination. Strong contrasts between the sunlit wood and the deep shadows cast by the alternating arrangement emphasize the three-dimensionality of the stacked timbers. This composition elevates the mundane, revealing an inherent architectural beauty in the industrial landscape. Link, renowned for his iconic photographs of the last days of steam railroading in America, often found artistic resonance in the components and infrastructure supporting this vanishing era. Here, the cross ties, fundamental to the railroad system, become subjects of abstract beauty. The artist's keen eye for composition and his masterful use of black and white photography are evident, creating a work that transcends mere documentation. The image captures a specific moment in time and place, Bossier City, Louisiana, reflecting a facet of American industry and its raw materials. As a vintage gelatin silver print, this piece offers a direct connection to Link's original vision and technique, making it a significant acquisition for collectors interested in classic American photography and the interplay of industry and art.

Medium
Vintage gelatin silver print
Location
Wright, Chicago, United States

🔨 Auction Lot

Wright: 20|21 Art: The Chicago Edition (July 2022)

July 14, 2022

Estimate: $2,000 to $3,000

Lot 223

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About this work

O. Winston Link, RR Cross Ties Drying in the Sun and Air, Bossier City, Louisiana, 1950

O. Winston Link's "RR Cross Ties Drying in the Sun and Air, Bossier City, Louisiana" from 1950 transforms a utilitarian subject into a compelling study of form and light. This vintage gelatin silver print presents a tightly composed, upward-angled view of stacked railroad ties, creating a powerful interplay of diagonal lines and repetitive geometric shapes. The rough texture of the wood, with its visible grain and weathered surfaces, is rendered with meticulous detail, inviting close examination. Strong contrasts between the sunlit wood and the deep shadows cast by the alternating arrangement emphasize the three-dimensionality of the stacked timbers. This composition elevates the mundane, revealing an inherent architectural beauty in the industrial landscape. Link, renowned for his iconic photographs of the last days of steam railroading in America, often found artistic resonance in the components and infrastructure supporting this vanishing era. Here, the cross ties, fundamental to the railroad system, become subjects of abstract beauty. The artist's keen eye for composition and his masterful use of black and white photography are evident, creating a work that transcends mere documentation. The image captures a specific moment in time and place, Bossier City, Louisiana, reflecting a facet of American industry and its raw materials. As a vintage gelatin silver print, this piece offers a direct connection to Link's original vision and technique, making it a significant acquisition for collectors interested in classic American photography and the interplay of industry and art.

Medium
Vintage gelatin silver print
Year
1950
Seen at
Wright, Chicago, United States

Related themes

Railroad Subject, Photography, Architectural Beauty, Geometric Forms, Collectible Print, Male Artist, Modernist, Southern American, Mid Century, High Contrast, Documentary Photography, Landscape, Gelatin Silver Print, Vintage Photography, American Artist, Black And White, Formal Abstraction, Texture And Pattern, Light and Shadow, Industrial Subject, Abstract Composition

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