Jalapa 46 (Homage to F.K.) 1974

Aaron Siskind made this gelatin silver print, "Jalapa 46 (Homage to F.K.)" and what strikes me is its immediacy, its rawness. The stark contrast between the black marks and the grey wall is mesmerizing. The black seems almost sprayed, it’s definitely not carefully applied, more like captured, like a moment. Splatters and drips are a huge part of its feel; they remind us that the process is as important as the final image. The rough texture of the wall contrasts with the smooth sheen of the silver gelatin. The upper left corner has this dense, almost architectural shape. It anchors the chaos, it stabilizes the feeling of the piece. Siskind's work reminds me of Cy Twombly, not just in the markings, but in the feeling that something complex is being hinted at with a simple gesture. Art is always speaking to other art, isn't it? It's all one big, beautiful conversation.