Rome: Arch of Constantine 5 1967

This is a gelatin silver print of the Arch of Constantine in Rome by Aaron Siskind. There’s a real intensity here, you know? I imagine Siskind wandering through Rome, looking at these ancient monuments, trying to see something new in them. I can almost feel him squinting through the lens, shifting his weight, trying to find the right angle to capture not just the stone, but the feeling of time itself. It is rugged, a very visceral texture. The choice of black and white really emphasizes the play of light and shadow, abstracting these very real, monumental forms into something more emotional. The image feels raw and immediate, like he’s wrestling with the subject, trying to extract its essence. And isn't that what we’re all trying to do as artists, really? To find a way to connect with something bigger than ourselves, to leave our mark on the world, even if it’s just a whisper?