Does this controversial 9/11 photograph deserve to be in New York's 400th birthday exhibition?

A new online exhibition celebrates 400 years since the founding of New York in 1624, with photographs of the Big Apple taken by some of the most iconic photographers – including Thomas Hoepker, whose controversial 9/11 image is part of the event.

A City of Dreams – 400 Years of New York is a new online exhibition by Camera Work Gallery based in Berlin, Germany. The exhibition celebrates all that is New York with a selection of 40 images that include street, portrait, landscape, fashion, and architecture photography from photographers for whom "the metropolis represents a central venue for their artistic development".

Hoepker's photograph, View from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Manhattan, 9/11 , depicts five seemingly nonchalent people talking on the banks of the East River in Williamsburg, while smoke from the Twin Towers fills the sky across the water in Manhattan.

It was a lightning rod for controversy, and became a notable talking point – both for Hoepker's decision to censor himself, choosing not to publish it in the Magnum photobook he was editing in 2001, and for the public reaction to the image when it was finally published in 2005.

Elsewhere in the exhibition, photographs from greats such as Elliott Erwitt, Arthur Elgort, David LaChapelle, Vincent Peters, David Yarrow and many more capture the heart and soul of the city.

Iconic New York subjects such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, and Jay Z all feature in addition to behind-the-scenes images taken of iconic films such as Taxi Driver filmed in the city. The city's influence on the photographer is evident in each image, thanks to its unique aura, it is a place unlike anywhere else.

"New York is still considered one of the most important cities in the world," says Camera Works. "It plays a central role in the art market and has been an important cultural center since the early 20th Century.

The city has a rich history as a center of activity for many artists as well as cultural and artistic movements. Since the middle of the 20th Century in particular, New York has developed into the global center of modern and contemporary art. Due to its unique architecture, the city also became an important motif for photographers and a location for elaborate artistic productions".

Split across two rooms, one filled with black-and-white photographs and the other color. The online viewing software takes you through a guided virtual tour as if you were walking around the room, providing details on each image you stop by. Although the guided tour is effective, you can also break free and explore the space in your own time.

The great thing about virtual galleries is that they are more accessible. People from all around the world can view this carefully curated exhibition for free, and spend as long as wanted in front of the great pieces of work. I have personally walked through the exhibition three times, spending a considerable amount of time with each image, whereas in person I would have been hurried along.

A City of Dreams – 400 Years of New York is on virtual display now and will run until September 19, 2024.

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