Father and Son, Hollywood Boulevard, 1969-1972, Avenue of the Stars 1969 - 1972

Curator: Dennis Feldman’s gelatin silver print, Father and Son, Hollywood Boulevard, likely taken between 1969 and 1972, captures a striking portrait. Editor: It's a study in contrasts, isn’t it? The stark black and white, the juxtaposition of the father's weary demeanor against the son's youthful seriousness, and then the shoes in the window. Curator: Hollywood Boulevard, then, was a symbolic backdrop. The image underscores the complex relationship between the illusion of Hollywood and the realities of American family life. Editor: And the father’s cigarette, the boy's camera – they're material signifiers of different eras, different tools, different ways of seeing the world. It speaks volumes about labor, skill, and the commodification of experience. Curator: Precisely. Feldman uses this staged encounter to explore shifting social values. The camera, a relatively new consumer item for many families, is a means to capture and perhaps control the world around them. Editor: Makes you wonder about the labor and value behind the production of the clothing they wear, the shoes in the window, and even the film itself. Curator: Agreed. There is an inherent critique of the image-making machine embedded in the construction of this photo, if you ask me. Editor: Yes, and it underscores the inherent relationship between commerce and personal identity. That's where the power lies in this image.