Maynard Dixon c. 1930

This photograph of Maynard Dixon, by Dorothea Lange, captures a moment of raw contemplation. I wonder what he's thinking about. I like to imagine him wrestling with a difficult canvas, or staring off into the middle distance, trying to capture the fading light. The monochrome palette here is interesting. It strips away the noise and distraction, leaving only the most important thing – the subject’s expression and pose. Maynard’s hand is raised to his mouth with a cigarette in hand, in a gesture of both thought and defiance. I love the way he looks directly into the camera. He has a kind of dare to him. Painters, photographers, we're all always in conversation with one another across time, seeing and re-seeing each other’s work, figuring out what it means to be an artist. The act of creation is a continuous loop of interpretation, expression, and exchange. It is about an ongoing exploration of what it means to be human and to express that visually.