Much like Eugene Atget, photographer Michael Padnos

continues the tradition of being a photographic chronicler

of social and cultural phenomenon by capturing transient

scenes in the shop windows of Europe. He also follows in

the steps of the Surrealists who reveled in Atget’s

photographs of the windows due to the reflections that

gave a double view of the world: inside and outside. This

view also emphasized the Surrealist fascination with

objects, chance, and juxtapositions.

Eugene Atget chronicled the exterior social and cultural life

of Paris in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Prior to and

during the city undergoing a major transformation, Atget

was able to capture the small interwoven medieval streets

before some gave way to grand boulevards. This change in

city streets was dubbed the Haussmannisation of Paris, after

the urban planner, Baron Haussmann who led the

urbanization projects.

Atget photographed continuously throughout the city and

the outer lying areas creating a prolific taxonomy of the city.

Amongst his vast collection are images of shop windows.

To see more of Michael Padnos photographs visit:

http://www.michaelpadnosphotography.com/index.php

or his work at the Panopticon Gallery:

http://www.panopt.com/images-new.php?a=40&all#.

To see images by Atget visit George Eastman Collection:

http://www.geh.org/fm/atget/htmlsrc/