Fred Herzog. Curtains, Vancouver, Canada, 1972

Fred Herzog was renowned for his vibrant colour street photography at a time when colour photography was primarily linked with advertising and had not yet gained acceptance for artistic or serious documentary work. One of his notable works is “Curtains,” captured in Vancouver.

Upon viewing this photo, as with many of Herzog’s photographs, one is immediately struck by the vivid colours, especially the Kodachrome red. The image showcases his skill as a street photographer. It captures a transient moment: a woman’s arm resting on a couch, lightly touching the edge of the opposite curtain from inside a shabby shop front. A hint of a blue sleeve pops beautifully against the cream hues of her arm and the curtains. The photo conveys an architectural feel with its straight lines, shopfront window and cream curtains, flanked by a red door and complementary green textures below. We’re treated to frames within frames, and a play on shapes with a round doormat and a square manhole cover below. It’s the product of an astute eye and impeccable timing, framing just a nuance of a moment amidst urban colours, shapes, and forms…

Fred Herzog’s Philosophy and Aesthetics
Herzog’s work typically captures Vancouver’s post-war era of the 1950s and 1960s. His philosophy centred on creating “unposed photographs in colour that have historical value.” His photographs often depict urban streets, storefronts, signs, and community gatherings, all portrayed with the rich colour palette of Kodachrome slide film, preferred by the pioneers of colour photography such as Ernst Haas, Saul Leiter, and William Eggleston. His use of colour, attention to the everyday, and the ability to narrate the growth of a city through carefully framed snapshots of its people and urban landscapes made him an extraordinary photographer.

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