Untitled (Panama) 1978

Curator: Bill Dane captured this candid black and white photograph, simply titled "Untitled (Panama)," which is now held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a stark, humid feel about it. The high contrast emphasizes the harsh sunlight, giving the scene a somewhat desolate mood. Curator: Dane often documented everyday life. Notice the juxtaposition of the mundane—a bus, a vendor—with the personal, the individual. The subject with a cloth over their head intrigues. Editor: The composition is striking. The strong vertical lines of the buildings are cleverly broken by the diagonal sign, and the positioning of the two figures creates a captivating visual tension. Curator: Indeed. Dane was interested in the semiotics of the street. The signs, the bus, even the vendor's goods speak volumes about commerce and culture. Editor: I find it fascinating how the artist uses shadow. It is almost a character in itself, extending from the foreground figures and defining the space they occupy. Curator: A compelling work that highlights Dane's ability to find poetry in the ordinary. Editor: A beautiful study in contrasts, both visual and social.