Untitled (Lower West Side series) 1985

Curator: This photograph, part of Milton Rogovin's "Lower West Side" series from 1985, offers a powerful, intimate look at working-class life. It's a gelatin silver print, focusing on an individual standing directly for the camera. Editor: There's a vulnerability to this image that's striking. The subject's posture, the slightly downcast gaze...it feels like we're catching him at a very private moment, even though he's standing on what appears to be a street. Curator: Rogovin's project aimed to document the communities often overlooked or misrepresented. By the 1980s, the forces of deindustrialization were deeply impacting communities across America and Rogovin felt a moral calling to address the working classes. His artistic work carries distinct sociopolitical underpinnings. Editor: Absolutely. The backdrop is significant, too. The weathered building, the number '4' next to the door, the beat-up trash can–they all speak to the economic realities of the subject. But is he comfortable and familiar, maybe that’s what home looks like? His clothes indicate the opposite. There's no glamorization here, only honesty. What do you make of his hand on his chest, over his heart? Is he making a statement or pledge of allegiance of some sort? Is this image related to that act? Curator: I interpret it through the lens of lived experience, perhaps hinting at resilience in the face of hardship. It humanizes experiences. It draws attention to this man’s presence while underscoring his history. The setting does so much work of showing, rather than telling. We see how history and memory intersect with representation. The use of black and white creates that visual distinction and tension. Editor: Rogovin's use of photography as a form of social commentary and community engagement is so compelling. It reminds me how photographs of marginalized communities impact larger social systems and discourse. Images that capture lived experiences offer alternative accounts or counter narratives that contribute to social change. I find this simple image and narrative extremely compelling and memorable! Curator: It's a beautiful example of how art can bring visibility and voice to communities struggling for social justice. The man has presence, dignity and, resilience that echoes.