International Center of Photography, Peter Beard Opening, New York City 1977

Larry Fink captured this image, ‘International Center of Photography, Peter Beard Opening, New York City’ with a camera, of course, and a very specific kind of knowing. It's all about the blacks and whites, and how they play together – a real push and pull, like a visual hug. Speaking of hugs, look at the hands. They’re reaching, grabbing, holding tight. One set of hands is gentle, almost hesitant, while the other feels more assertive, possessive even. They remind me of Philip Guston’s late paintings. They are very specific, very physical, but also a bit cartoonish, a bit abstracted. This isn't just a snapshot; it's a study in contrasts, light and dark, soft and sharp, desire and maybe even a little bit of desperation. It leaves you wondering what's going on beneath the surface. Like all good art, it's more about the questions than the answers.