The artwork titled “New York (Boy Shining Shoes), July 1952” was created by the artist Vivian Maier in 1952. This piece is a part of the Street Photography movement and falls under the genre of photography.
In the artwork, a young boy is seen shining the shoes of a seated man, likely a carriage driver, given the context of the surrounding carriage and horse. The man is dressed in formal attire, including a tall hat and a waistcoat, while the boy, seated on the pavement, appears focused on his task. The background features the architectural setting of New York City during the mid-20th century, with classic buildings lining the street. The interaction between the boy and the man, as well as the juxtaposition of their attires and roles, highlights the social dynamics and the everyday life captured through Maier’s lens. The black-and-white photograph adds a timeless quality to the scene, typical of the street photography genre, and provides a glimpse into the historical and cultural landscape of New York in the early 1950s.
