Kardinaal Spellman leidt New Yorkse pelgrims in St. Peter Possibly 1950 - 1954

This photograph by Keystone Press Agency captures Cardinal Spellman leading New York pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. It's a black and white image, a study in contrasts, not just of light and dark, but of symbols and meanings. The American flag, with its stars and stripes, billows above the dark cross carried by the Cardinal. The flag seems to be straining towards something, a kind of optimism maybe? And the cross, so heavy with its own history, grounds the image. I'm drawn to the texture of the flag, the way it catches the light, creating these shimmering, almost painterly effects. It reminds me of some of the photographic work by Lisette Model, particularly her unflinching depiction of people and places. Like Model, this image invites us to consider the complexities of identity, faith, and the ever-shifting relationship between the personal and the political. Art doesn’t give answers, it poses questions, and this photograph is full of them.