Zachy and Gamal Sherif (Twins) 1985

Peter Hujar made this photograph of Zachy and Gamal Sherif, who are twins. I’m thinking about Peter behind the camera, coaxing the twins into this intimate pose, the light just so. You know, it’s funny how a simple black and white photo can feel so incredibly layered. He's probably thinking about Diane Arbus, who he admired and photographed. He was part of a vibrant art scene. The way they’re holding hands, their fingers intertwined – it’s tender, but there’s also something a bit melancholic, almost like they’re holding on for dear life. You can tell he worked in portraiture for a long time. It’s like Hujar’s saying that we can get to know each other through our art. It’s like he’s inviting us to be curious and think about the world in a different way, maybe a little bit more human.