Untitled (construction site in front of strip mall) c. 1970s

Editor: This is John Gossage's "Untitled (construction site in front of strip mall)." It's a stark black and white photograph. There’s a real contrast between the dark foreground and the distant strip mall. What do you see in the composition of this work? Curator: The high contrast and stark tonality articulate a powerful visual language. The composition directs the eye using formal elements. Note the interplay of light and shadow. How does this enhance your understanding of the subject? Editor: It almost feels like a stage, with the strip mall as a backdrop. Curator: Precisely. The formal arrangement creates a dramatic effect. The geometry of the scene, divided by light and shadow, forms its own symbolic structure. What is the effect of the sharp tonal range? Editor: I see how the darkness and light emphasize the different forms. It’s less about the subject and more about how you see it. Curator: Exactly. It is in this tension that the artist uses structure to convey meaning. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for pointing out the formal elements at play. Curator: Indeed. A close reading of the visual structure illuminates the work’s underlying meanings.