Jerusalem, 2005, on the Tel Aviv Highway Possibly 2005 - 2014

This is a photograph by Leo Rubinfien, "Jerusalem, 2005, on the Tel Aviv Highway" and it's monochromatic, probably shot on film. I can imagine the artist developing the image, inking the paper, carefully controlling the tones. The image feels very immediate, like a snapshot. The gaze of the young boy is very direct, and it makes you wonder what's going through his head. The curls around his ears are beautifully rendered. They make a wonderful contrast with the geometrical shapes of the cap and the striped shirt. The light seems very natural, which adds to the documentary feel. I really get the feeling that the photographer wanted to say something about identity, and the way that we see ourselves. I love that this image captures something so intimate.