Hollywood (#3) Possibly 1989 - 1994

Jim Goldberg’s black and white photograph, simply titled "Hollywood #3", captures a street scene with two men and a baby. This image invites us to consider the social dynamics at play in a place synonymous with fame and fortune. It shows two men on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One man smiles at the baby held in the arms of the other. The star beneath their feet, a symbol of celebrity culture, starkly contrasts with the everyday reality of parenthood. The photograph was shot in a period when Hollywood was undergoing significant transformations, with independent cinema challenging the established studio system. Goldberg's photograph invites us to see past the façade of glamour and consider the lives of those who exist outside the spotlight. To fully understand this artwork, we might turn to sociological studies of Hollywood, oral histories of its residents, and archival images that capture its ever-changing social landscape. Only then can we appreciate its layered commentary on fame, family, and the human condition.