The photograph “Street Findings” is a work by Irving Penn, captured in New York in 1999. The image features an array of discarded cigarette butts, some crushed and others intact, splayed out against a solid background. The detritus includes not only the butts but also bits of paper and strands that could be remnants of cigarette packaging or other street sweepings. Penn’s composition turns these ordinary and often overlooked objects into a study of textures and forms, bringing a sense of order and artistic expression to what is typically considered trash. The photograph, with its detailed capture of the cigarette butts, reflects Penn’s ability to find beauty and significance in the mundane.
