Jacksonville, Florida c. 1960s

Anthony Barboza made this black and white photograph, Jacksonville, Florida, sometime in the 20th century. Look at the tonal range here, from the bright highlights on the children's faces, to the deepest shadows in the background. It is all about light and dark, and how they define the subjects, isn't it? The texture of the photograph feels almost palpable. You can feel the rough grain of the wooden wall behind them, in sharp contrast to the smooth skin of the children. The older child stares directly at the viewer, and I notice the details of her expression - the serious set of her mouth, the slight furrow of her brow. She has a story to tell. The younger child clutches a doll - that doll with the pale hand - turning away, as if for protection, or maybe afraid of something that we can’t see? Barboza was part of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 70s. His work shares some similarities with Roy DeCarava, another photographer known for his sensitive and intimate portraits of the Black community. But, of course, Barboza has his own unique vision, capturing moments of everyday life with a sense of both tenderness and raw honesty.