Freudian Handclasp, New York City c. 1947 - 1981

Louis Faurer captured this image in New York City, a silver gelatin print of two figures holding hands, one with a napkin, or some kind of object, in their hand. I look at this and wonder, what was Louis thinking when he made this photograph? Was he a romantic, or just a documentarian? The beauty of photography is that it can be both, right? Did he see something in these lovers that he wanted to share with the world? Or was he just trying to capture a moment in time? I love how he captured the vulnerability of their handclasp, like it's some kind of secret they’re sharing. It makes me think about how we all crave connection, how we all want to be seen and understood, even in a busy city like New York. The photograph is like a poem, and it's something that all artists should be inspired by.