The Brown Sisters, Dallas, Texas 2008

This is a gelatin silver print of four sisters, made by Nicholas Nixon in Dallas, Texas. Photographic prints like this one may seem commonplace now, but they are the result of a complex sequence of chemical and mechanical processes. The artist begins with a camera and film, and then laboriously works in the darkroom. The negative is used as a template to create a positive image, developed through careful control of light exposure, chemical baths, and washing. The choice of gelatin silver gives the image its particular tonal range, from deep blacks to luminous whites, and its smooth surface. The resulting object is more than just a record of a moment. It embodies the artist's skill, judgment, and labor. It challenges us to appreciate the craft embedded in even the most seemingly straightforward images. In doing so, Nixon elevates photography from mere reproduction to a fine art, deeply invested in both material and process.