"Joan Hensel, I.B.M.-T.L.C." 1956

This intimate photograph of Joan Hensel, titled "I.B.M.-T.L.C.", captures a moment frozen in time. The monochrome palette throws me back to the darkroom, where the image slowly emerged in the developing solution, each tone and shadow revealing itself with careful intention. I can imagine the photographer carefully adjusting the focus to capture the soft glow of Joan's cardigan, or the delicate lace of her sleeve. What was the photographer looking for? What kind of picture did they imagine they were making? I’m curious about that little blue annotation along the side. It's like the artist is in conversation with their subject, or maybe even with themselves. It’s a reminder that all artistic endeavors are a dialogue, constantly evolving and shaping one another. It reminds me of the collages of artists like Hannah Hoch, of the early 20th century. This photograph is an invitation to see the potential for storytelling in the most everyday scenes.