Boys in the shelter hug Pierre Garrett after a tearful confrontation with his mother. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago. 1999

Editor: So, this is Donna Ferrato's photograph from 1999, "Boys in the shelter hug Pierre Garrett after a tearful confrontation with his mother. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago." It’s a black and white photograph, capturing an intimate moment in what appears to be a shelter. The embrace in the center strikes me as a poignant moment of comfort amid a bleak setting. What feelings does this photograph evoke in you? Curator: It's like a lullaby hummed in the key of sorrow and resilience. Ferrato doesn't just show us an image, she offers us an emotional truth. It smells of institutional disinfectant but blossoms with the sweetness of human touch. That embrace—it's survival, isn't it? What does the Ashcan School have to say to today's viewers? It isn't just what we see, but what we suddenly feel – the echoing ache in another person’s embrace. How do you feel about her intimate positioning within the group, is it invasive, or an authentic approach? Editor: It’s definitely a charged question of ethics, right? The intimacy feels earned rather than exploitative; but, for me, I do wonder about that line between bearing witness and intruding. It raises tough questions. Curator: Absolutely. The light, sharp and unforgiving, adds to that feeling. There is an urgent sense of… 'witness this'. A reminder that bearing witness is not always a comfortable act. Do you think that by capturing the nuances, by embracing the ugly and beautiful of real-life complexities and paradoxes in this way, Ferrato amplifies this moment or overshadows their lived experience? I love how photography presents us with conundrums. Editor: This has definitely shifted my initial viewing! The more we unpack, the more nuanced the photograph appears. Thanks! Curator: Likewise. Now go forth and question every visual story!