Appalachia 1962 - 1971

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, titled "Appalachia," was created between 1962 and 1971 by Milton Rogovin. The texture and tones evoke a sense of stark realism, but I am curious about what makes it work so well as a photograph. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Formally, consider the stark contrast between the subjects and the deep background. Rogovin has placed two figures, presumably a couple, within what appears to be a sparse interior, possibly a bedroom. Notice the composition: how the oval frames on the wall mimic and contrast with the figures' faces, leading the eye in a complex circular dance. Editor: The dark interior definitely feels significant, perhaps oppressive? And why this square format, rather than something wider? Curator: The square format immediately restricts and centers our gaze, compressing the depth. It throws emphasis onto the vertical plane and allows us to study the texture created by objects with very fine patterning in an extremely shallow space. Rogovin makes use of what appear to be multiple light sources. Do you observe the shadows, how each object seems lit from various angles simultaneously? Editor: Now that you mention it, the lighting gives it an almost unsettling feeling, adding another layer of complexity to an already intricate arrangement of shapes and shades. It prevents us from finding stability in the image! Curator: Exactly. Rogovin understood the power of formal arrangement to disrupt expected narratives. Did this formalism contribute, do you think, to the social-realist intentions? Editor: Yes, it highlights the raw intensity of this portrait. Thanks, that really deepened my understanding! Curator: Likewise; looking closely at formal elements certainly offers another way into social art!