Untitled 1993

This gelatin silver print was made by Thomas Roma, sometime after 1950, it feels like a memory being processed. I see how Roma coaxes a rich range of tones from the grayscale, it is a reminder that artmaking is a process of experimentation, a dance between intention and accident. The photograph is a study in texture, from the smooth skin of the children to the ornate frills of the elder's dresses. It’s all about the light. The details in the dress fabrics almost lift off the surface. Check out the way the folds cascade into shadow. The whole image has a slightly soft-focus feel, a little blurry and dreamlike, creating an emotionally powerful effect. Looking at this, I think of Dawoud Bey, particularly the way he captures a sense of dignity and grace. There's an ambiguity here, and maybe that's the point, art isn't about answers, it's about opening up a space for conversation and exchange.