The Vegetable Peddler

Arthur Fellig, known by his nickname Weegee, was a freelance photojournalist who specialized in night work that often focused on the harsh realities of urban life. His direct and unsentimental approach was heightened by the piercing light of his flash-bulb. In this image, an old vegetable peddler treads wearily with his horse through a wintery night on New York City’s lower east side. The snow flakes accumulating on the man’s beard, woolen jacket, and the horse’s coat convey the visceral sensation of cold.