Eleanor 1948

Curator: Harry Callahan's striking image, titled "Eleanor," captures his wife in a way that's almost abstract. It’s a study in contrasts, a dance between light and shadow. Editor: My first thought is one of stark absence. The figure is rendered entirely in silhouette, a void against a bright, blank background, which really evokes a sense of alienation. Curator: Yes, but also, a certain intimacy. Callahan photographed Eleanor for decades; she was his muse. I think this image, in its reduction, distills something essential about their relationship. Editor: I agree that the image does evoke a feeling of closeness between the artist and subject. However, perhaps the artist's lens on his muse does in fact create a visual experience where the audience is alienated by an image that is reduced to form. Curator: It's a powerful piece. It makes you wonder what stories are hidden within those shadows. Editor: It is an example of how identity can be hidden in plain sight, a compelling thought.