New York 1987

Editor: This is Rosalind Solomon's "New York" from 1987, a gelatin-silver print. It’s a stark, black and white image, featuring two figures sitting close together on a bench. There’s an almost confrontational directness to their gaze... What resonates with you most about this photograph? Curator: Confrontational is a great word for it! For me, it's like stumbling into a deeply personal moment. The rawness…the unflinching gaze…It’s like Solomon has captured not just an image, but a shared silence filled with unspoken stories. It almost feels like an invitation to eavesdrop on a hidden corner of humanity. Does that resonate with you at all, or do you see something else entirely? Editor: I see that. There's definitely a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that's really powerful. I also wonder about the context - 1980s New York - and what their story might be. What can you tell me about that? Curator: Ah, context! Everything and nothing, right? The '80s in New York were a maelstrom of artistic expression, financial excess, and burgeoning identity politics. Solomon, known for her exploration of marginalized communities, often sought to give voice to those rendered invisible. This image, I think, invites us to confront our own assumptions and prejudices. Editor: So it's almost like the subjects are daring us to look, to really *see* them, without judgment. Curator: Precisely! Art, at its most potent, should shake us awake, prod us out of our comfortable little boxes, don't you think? And, maybe, help us find beauty in the unexpected. It did that for me with Solomon's picture; a lump in my throat and a broader view of our weird world. How has your view shifted? Editor: I agree; I now appreciate the complex layers of emotion and identity she has managed to capture in a single frame. Thank you!