Robert Gould Shaw Memorial c. 1973 - 2008

Richard Benson's photograph captures the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in a play of light and shadow. The memorial commemorates Colonel Shaw, who commanded the first all-black regiment during the Civil War. I think of the dedication it takes to translate a three-dimensional sculpture into two dimensions through photography! Imagine Benson circling the monument, considering the light, how it hits those deeply carved figures. Look at the texture he coaxes from the stone, making it almost palpable, the rough-hewn quality of the soldiers' faces. There's a beautiful tension between the smooth, photographic surface and the rough, weighty subject matter. I’m so moved by the way Benson makes us feel the weight of history in this image. The choice to work in monochrome eliminates distractions of color, focusing our attention on form, texture, and the sheer gravity of the subject. It evokes the past and speaks to the present. It is like Benson is asking: How do we remember, and what do we choose to see?