The photograph titled “White Fence” was taken by the artist Paul Strand in 1916. It is a black and white image showing a striking contrast between the dark and the light elements. The foreground prominently features a white picketed fence. The repetitive pattern of the pickets creates a strong graphic element that draws the viewer’s attention. Behind the fence, dark shadows create a backdrop for the lighter colored wooden structures – a building to the left with a barn door, and another residential-like building to the right with windows and what appears to be a porch or extension. The composition plays with texture and geometric shapes, displaying Strand’s exploration of abstract forms in everyday objects and scenes. The photo is a representative work of early 20th-century photography, where photographers like Strand sought to elevate photography as an art form through such thoughtful compositions.
