"Pals" c. 1920s

This small, anonymous photograph, simply titled "Pals," captures a moment of quiet camaraderie, maybe even a little mischievousness. It's all about the tonal range, a soft sepia that feels both nostalgic and immediate. Look at the way the light catches the figures in the water, how it blurs the line between the physical and the reflective. The surface of the print itself has a tactile quality, it's got a bit of tooth, like a watercolor paper. The figures are arranged with their backs turned, almost daring you to pry into their private world. And that dog in the middle, it's like a chaperone and a fellow conspirator. There is something similar in the earlier work of Emmet Gowin, where he also photographs his family in intimate, natural settings. Both artists seem to embrace the idea that art doesn't always need to shout, sometimes the quietest moments resonate the loudest. This image is a beautiful reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and in the simplest of friendships.