Moscow, 2003, on Malaya Bronnaya Street Possibly 2003 - 2014

Editor: This photograph, "Moscow, 2003, on Malaya Bronnaya Street" by Leo Rubinfien, made with gelatin silver print, pulls me in. There's an immediacy, the guy’s windblown hair, his suit… He looks pensive. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Oh, absolutely. I love how Rubinfien captures that moment, doesn't he? For me, there’s a whole story being told in a single frame. Think about it - this image was likely captured during a period of profound change in Moscow, economically and culturally. Look at the man's suit, that could represent the aspirations, the yearning for modernity and connection to the West post-Soviet Union, couldn't it? But then that face, you’re right - the pensiveness is palpable. Editor: Yes! That yearning you mention…is it me, or is there some nostalgia implied? The black and white feels deliberately chosen, like reaching back to the golden age of photography, yet documenting something totally current. Curator: It's like the memory of an age, seen in real time, absolutely. Gelatin silver prints have such incredible tonal range. The artist probably uses those gray tones to almost layer different realities –the promise and the past, or the internal and external realities… Is the man remembering something, or anticipating the future? What is it he may or may not expect? Editor: Wow, the layering you describe… that’s going to stick with me. It feels more complex now! Thanks! Curator: And thank you! Art’s all about looking again, isn’t it? I will start paying attention to how those shades can speak more clearly.