Lunch Atop A Skyscraper, 1932
During a lunch break that was captured, 11 men eating and smoking on top of Manhattan, 840 feet above with only a beam keeping them afloat. The men were construction workers. The picture was taken on the 69th floor of the flagship RCA building with the identities remaining a mystery. This has become an iconic emblem of the city.
By thumbing its nose at both danger and the Depression, Lunch Atop a Skyscraper came to symbolize American resilience and ambition at a time when both were desperately needed. Lunch atop a Skyscraper has spawned its economy. It is the Corbis photo agency’s most reproduced image.