Joseph Welch, Boston, Massachusetts after 1954

Gordon Parks created this photograph of Joseph Welch in Boston, Massachusetts. It’s like he’s caught in a dream, isn’t it? The dreamy quality comes from the window and the lace curtain separating us from Welch. But I’m also thinking about the pose, the way he’s holding his glasses, and the hint of a smile. It’s quite tender. You can almost feel Parks searching for a different angle, shifting and finding the right composition, the right balance between light and shadow. I wonder, what was Parks thinking when he made this? Did he want to make a formal portrait, or was he trying to capture something more intimate, a sense of Welch’s inner life? The texture in the image is amazing, from the ruffles of the curtain to the lines of Welch’s face. And that bow tie! What a statement. It’s all these little details that create such an amazing experience. Artists are always talking to each other across time, inspiring each other's vision. And in this image, Parks has left us with a photo full of ambiguity and openness, inviting us to bring our own interpretations and meanings to the work.