Pile of Bones #16 2000 - 2001

Sally Mann made "Pile of Bones #16" with what seems like a very physical, wet process. The blacks and whites aren't just tones, they feel like substances, like she's painting with shadows and light itself. It really brings out the emotional weight of the subject. Looking closely, you can almost feel the grit and texture of the bones. See how the light catches the edges, making them almost glow against the dark background? It’s like the image is emerging from the darkness, being brought into existence through the process of its making. It is as if Mann is embracing the unpredictable nature of photographic chemistry. It reminds me a bit of Joel-Peter Witkin’s photography in its frankness and focus on mortality, but with a gentler, more elegiac touch. Both artists invite us to look at what we might rather avoid, and to find beauty and meaning in the process. In the end, that's what art's all about, right?