New York 1987

This black and white photograph called New York was made by Rosalind Solomon. It shows a man in dark clothing resting on a sofa with a curious object in his hand. It's interesting to consider the texture of the image, the way light falls and is captured by the grain of the film. Look at the way the lines of the man's face are captured, or the reflections in the baubles of the object he holds. Solomon plays with shadow, particularly in the folds of the clothing and the contrast between the darks and the light of the sofa. The pose is casual, but the image is carefully arranged to bring out the contrast between light and dark. The subject gazes into the camera as if thinking or waiting. Solomon has work in color, but I am reminded of the black and white work of Lisette Model. Both artists share a preoccupation with the starkness and drama of light and shadow, revealing a psychological complexity. Ultimately, this image asks us to consider the relationship between the artist, the subject, and the world they inhabit.