Echo Waiting (Polk and Sutter) Possibly 1986 - 1994

Jim Goldberg made this photograph, Echo Waiting (Polk and Sutter), using a camera, but it feels like a painting because of the depth of field. The blurriness makes me think about how we look at things, and how much of seeing is actually about focusing on one thing and letting everything else fall away. The photograph’s texture is rich, almost like a charcoal drawing. It's all in black and white, which gives it this timeless, almost nostalgic feel. The way the light hits the window and creates reflections within reflections is so cool. If you look closely at the blurry figure in the foreground, the way the light catches the hand holding the cigarette is amazing. It’s like Goldberg is saying something about isolation, and what it means to be in your own head. Goldberg's work often plays with this kind of layered storytelling and reminds me a bit of Robert Frank, who also captured these kinds of raw, honest moments. Ultimately, this piece is about seeing and not seeing, knowing and not knowing.