New York 1987

Rosalind Solomon made this photograph, "New York," at an unknown date with gelatin silver. Look at the two men, one so very sick in his hospital bed, the other holding his hand, and the way Solomon uses light and shadow to emphasize their bond. I can only imagine what it was like to be in that room, witnessing such raw vulnerability. The high contrast emphasizes the texture of the skin, the folds of the sheets, and the sterile environment of the hospital. The man sitting beside the bed is not touching him so much as holding his hand, and his gaze is intense. I can't help but think about all the other artists who have tried to capture similar feelings, and how each one brings their own unique perspective to the challenge. Art is nothing if not an embodied exchange across time, isn’t it? Each new piece inspires creativity in others.