Recipient of Welfare Assistance 1930

August Sander made this gelatin silver print, “Recipient of Welfare Assistance,” and it's like looking into the eyes of history. I feel for Sander here, grappling with how to fairly depict his subject, a man standing against the wall with his hands clasped. The sepia tone gives it such a sense of distance, a kind of remove, but Sander’s decision to shoot the man head on, and in full light, is actually generous. The photograph's texture is smooth, letting the details of the man’s face and clothing come forward, the fabric of the suit, the lines etched on his face. The subtle shadow to the left softens the blow, and I see the artist’s tenderness. It reminds me that we, as artists, are always negotiating how to look, what to show, and what to hold back. Sander's work makes me think about how art can be a mirror, reflecting not just the world, but our own selves trying to make sense of it all.