"Taken Dec. 20 at home 1959. Bud and Jeff." 20 - 1959

This small photograph titled "Taken Dec. 20 at home 1959. Bud and Jeff." captures a moment, a feeling, and the texture of a particular time. The black and white tones lend a melancholic feeling, but the photograph has a candid quality, with Bud – I'm guessing that's the cowboy – caught in a moment of glee. The surface of the print shows the effects of time: faded contrasts, some scuffs and scratches, and subtle variations in tone that create an appealing patina. Look at the way the light catches the edge of the side table, the way the gun reflects the light. This photograph, with its snapshot aesthetic, echoes the works of artists like Nan Goldin, who explored themes of memory, identity, and personal experience through intimate, diaristic imagery. Like Goldin’s photographs, this image reminds us that art is often a conversation, a way of seeing and being seen across time. It’s up to us to keep the conversation going, finding new meanings and connections in the images that move us.