Man on Bench 1937

Nathan Lerner made this black and white photograph, titled 'Man on Bench', sometime in the twentieth century. I'm immediately drawn to the figure's bowed head and clasped hands, it makes you wonder what he's thinking or feeling. I imagine Lerner observing this man, perhaps feeling a sense of empathy or curiosity. The composition is interesting, with the rough texture of the bench creating a foreground that both separates and connects us to the man. It’s a formal device, but it also adds to the sense of intimacy, like we are quietly sharing this space with him. It reminds me of other photographers who capture quiet moments of everyday life, like Helen Levitt or Garry Winogrand. There's a sense of timelessness, of capturing a universal human experience, a brief moment in the life of an ordinary person. Artists are always responding to each other, building on what came before, finding new ways to express the complexities of human life. Photography like painting is a conversation.