Dick Hughes, Shenango Ingot Molds (Working People series) 1983

Milton Rogovin made this gelatin silver print, Dick Hughes, Shenango Ingot Molds, sometime during his Working People series. What really strikes me about Rogovin's approach is how he lets the subjects arrange themselves within the space, creating their own composition. It's like he's just bearing witness. The gray tones here are so descriptive, each holding a specific piece of information that contributes to the narrative. The doll on the lap, the Elvis poster in the background – each object placed with intention. It gives you a sense that you are looking at real life, not a set up. This photograph has a raw, unpolished quality that makes it feel so authentic. I think of photographers like Diane Arbus who captured similar moments with an unflinching gaze. It is like Rogovin is saying, "Here is life, with all its textures and complexities, draw from it what you will". Art offers us not answers, but questions and connections.