Interior Detail, West Virginia Coal Miner's House 1935

This is a photograph, "Interior Detail, West Virginia Coal Miner's House" by Walker Evans. It's hard to tell exactly when it was made, but the image is almost like a painting. The composition is fascinating, as your eye is drawn around the scene. The walls are covered in posters and advertisements, which give you a sense of the time and place. Then there's that rocking chair, right? It's so central. All those vertical lines pull you in, and then that cushion in the middle makes it look like this object has a face. The broom standing in the corner is beautiful, like a drawing. The wear and tear on the wall, the peeling posters, the wood on the floor, everything speaks of time, life, and the tough beauty of everyday objects. It reminds me a bit of the early work of Robert Rauschenberg, with its use of found objects and everyday scenes, only much more sober. It's a poignant and beautiful look at a world that’s both specific and universal.