Atherton, California c. 1972 - 1980

This black and white photograph, "Atherton, California", might have been captured in a moment of quiet reflection, a pause in the day. I wonder about William Carter, who, according to the dates, wasn't alive when this photograph was taken. But maybe he was, maybe those dates aren't right, or maybe this is a picture of a relative of his. Anyway, there is a lone figure resting on a bed. It is a serene and contemplative scene. I wonder, what was Carter thinking? There is something very personal and intimate about taking someone’s picture while they’re resting; it suggests a deep level of trust. It is such a contrast to the performative nature of portraiture, suggesting the intimacy and domestic life. Painters borrow from photographs all the time, and what painters can bring to a photograph is another whole layer of meaning. They are in an ongoing conversation. It's nice to think about the possibility of a painter using this image to make something new.