Club Cornich, New York City 1977

Larry Fink made this gelatin silver print, Club Cornich, New York City, sometime during his time capturing scenes of the city. The contrast in this piece, it’s all about the push and pull between light and shadow, a real dance of tones. You know, it reminds me how much of art-making is about this very process – the back and forth, the give and take. Look at the way Fink plays with texture. The almost velvety blacks against the stark whites, there’s a physicality to it. You can almost feel the grit of the city, the softness of the moment. And then there's that detail where the guy's hand rests on the woman's waist, a bright spot that pulls you right in. It’s a tender, yet raw gesture. I think about Diane Arbus, how she also found beauty in the everyday, the unexpected. This image, it's like a snapshot of life itself: messy, beautiful, and open to interpretation.