Skip to main content

St. Paul’s from Ludgate Circus

Alvin Langdon Coburn

Artwork Details

St. Paul’s from Ludgate Circus
1905
Alvin Langdon Coburn
photogravure on paper
8 3/16 in x 6 15/16 in (20.8 cm x 17.62 cm)
Museum Purchase
1972/1.169

Description

Subject Matter:

This photograph provides viewers with an elevated view of the city of London. It focus on the steam, fog, and smoke that create a dense atmosphere over the city. This focus on atmosphere and the monumental structures that dwarf their human creators can be seen throughout the portfolio, London, in which this image was published in 1909. Coburn chooses to minimalize the human aspect of the city, with dark silhouettes of people in the streets, while the city itself the theme of this image. 

Physical Description:

This photograph depicts an elevated view of the atmosphere above the city of London with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background. The image focuses on a plume of smoke and spires on building tops.

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.