United States Illinois Pontiac Allen Candy Company Historic Mural Black And White Urban Street Scene Wall Art Photo Art Print | Limited Edition of 10
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When I wander through small American towns on old stretches of Route 66, I’m always drawn to the walls that still carry their history proudly. Pontiac, Illinois, is one of those places that doesn’t try to hide its past; it paints it right onto the brick. This black and white photograph captures the Allen Candy Company mural, a beautifully restored piece of Americana that sits just a few blocks from the heart of the historic downtown. Standing in front of it, I could almost imagine the smell of sugar drifting from an old factory door and workers loading crates into trucks headed across the Midwest.
In this image, the mural becomes the anchor for the entire frame. The hand-painted lettering, the swirling flourishes, and the illustration of an old industrial plant offer a glimpse into the commercial optimism of early twentieth-century America. Setting it against the clean geometry of the parking lot lines below creates an interesting tension: the past pressed against the present. I love working with scenes like this in black and white because it strips everything down to tone, texture, and form. The roughness of the brick, the crisp strokes of restored paint, and the faint cloud structure drifting overhead all fall into a slower rhythm that reminds me why these towns continue to fascinate me.
Pontiac has embraced its identity as a Route 66 waypoint, and you feel that while walking its streets. Murals appear everywhere—each one a moment in time captured on brick. When I was photographing this wall, I took my time stepping back, adjusting my composition, letting the lines breathe. I wanted to give the mural space so viewers could experience the message and craftsmanship without distraction. The empty parking spaces tell their own story too—they add quietness, a pause before the traffic and noise return.
Images like this resonate with me because they don’t rely on spectacle. They rely on memory. They remind us of the businesses that shaped communities long before digital storefronts and chain stores took over. I’ve always believed that travel photography isn’t just about landscapes or distant horizons; sometimes it’s about stopping in a small Midwestern town and letting a weathered brick wall tell you something about where you are.
If this atmosphere speaks to you, take a look at Route 66 Sign Pontiac Illinois.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2022
Edition Information
This photograph is released as a signed and numbered edition of 10 prints across all available sizes. Each print is individually signed and numbered by the artist on the reverse and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Once all 10 prints have been sold, this work will be permanently retired, and no further numbered editions will be produced in any size or format. A small number of Artist Proofs may be retained by the artist for archival or exhibition purposes.
Museum Quality Fine Art Prints
All prints are produced by the artist using archival pigment inks on professional photographic paper with a subtle luster finish.
This paper offers a balanced surface that enhances tonal depth, preserves fine detail, and reduces glare under typical indoor lighting conditions.
Each print is carefully inspected prior to dispatch to ensure consistency of finish and presentation.
Free Worldwide Delivery
Each print is personally produced, signed, and packaged by me at my studio in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada.
Orders are shipped worldwide via Canada Post at no additional cost. Delivery times may vary based on destination and local customs processing.
During periods of travel for on-location photographic work, dispatch may be delayed until I return to the studio.
