Robert von Sternberg 1975

This small, black and white photograph, by Mike Mandel, shows us Robert von Sternberg. It's about the size of a playing card, so immediately it’s an intimate encounter. The textures in this image are so tactile, even though it's a photograph, you can imagine running your fingers over the grainy surface of the print. There's a real rawness to it; the contrast feels almost like charcoal. Look how the light catches the sole of his shoe as he's kicking, the mark is almost confrontational. The dark areas in the background create depth, and push him into the foreground. It reminds me a little of John Baldessari, who often used photography and text in combination, like this, to create new and unexpected meanings. And just like his work, this piece stays with you, prompting questions, rather than providing answers.