Gloucester (Glove) 1944

Aaron Siskind made this black and white photograph, Gloucester (Glove), at an unknown date. What was Siskind thinking when he saw this glove lying on the weathered planks of wood? I wonder if he saw it as a kind of portrait. The glove is worn, like skin bearing the marks of time. And it’s isolated, set against the grain of the wood. Siskind’s eye turns ordinary objects into poignant compositions. The textures are so vivid; you can almost feel the rough wood and worn leather. Even though it's a still life, there’s a sense of movement, with the glove slightly askew. The image reminds me of other photographers like Walker Evans. Painters and photographers, we're all in this grand conversation, seeing the world in our own way, but also speaking to each other across time. Siskind encourages us to find beauty and meaning in the everyday, prompting us to consider how a simple object can carry a story.