John Sabatine and Molly at Pat Sabatine's Eleventh Birthday, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania 1980

Larry Fink made this gelatin silver print, titled "John Sabatine and Molly at Pat Sabatine's Eleventh Birthday, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania." The choice of black and white film emphasizes light and shadow, rendering the scene with stark realism. Gelatin silver prints, common in the 20th century, involve coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides. The labor is in the careful development process, manipulating time and temperature to bring forth the image. The photograph is not staged; it is a split-second in time. We are looking at two members of a working-class family, captured in a moment of celebration. Fink’s labor lies in the careful observation and framing of his subjects, seeking beauty in the everyday. The photograph freezes the ruggedness of John Sabatine's face and work clothes against the innocence of the child in his arms, suggesting the weight of responsibility he carries. This image, with its focus on the working class, invites us to reconsider the boundaries of art and life.