City Sidewalks: Christmas in New York, 2020

New Yorkers haven't ever experienced a holiday season quite like 2020's, and renowned photographer Camilo Jose Vergara wanted to capture it. Best known to New-York Historical visitors for his acclaimed Views of the World Trade Center photography collection, Vergara has spent the last few weeks roaming the New York region and shooting indelible scenes of hope, fear, and resilience. Watch a slideshow of the images and read from the artist himself about what he found:

"The time of year when Christmas trees, smiling Santas, and a huge variety of other seasonal decorations adorn places of business and people’s yards and apartment windows, COVID-19 also prevails, dampening the cheerfulness. Passersby on the streets wear protective masks with their winter attire, and the store windows filled with holiday imagery include the inevitable signs that a face mask is required.

Although trees, snow men, candy canes, reindeer and the words “Merry Christmas” are as prevalent as ever, nativity scenes are scarce and Christmas music is rarely played. One rainy night, I finally encountered a traditional nativity scene at street level, ensconced between two Bronx buildings; it was behind fence bars and covered with thick plexiglass. It showed the Holy Family surrounded by farm animals and adoring Magi, placed against a background of burlap and lit from above, a most unexpected sight."

—Camilo Jose Vergara