David Robbins 1986

This black and white photograph is by David Robbins. It's all about contrast, the dark hair against the pale skin, a study in light and shadow that makes you think about the process of looking. The details are what get me. Look at the texture of the hair, how it seems to absorb the light, and the way the glasses frame his eyes, giving them a kind of knowing intensity. Then there’s the subtle gradations of tone in his face, the soft curve of his cheek, the slight smile. It’s like a map of a person, but it's also about the medium, the way light and shadow play on a surface, creating depth and form. I'm reminded a little of Sherrie Levine's re-photographs, both playing with ideas of authorship and originality. Ultimately, it's a photograph that invites you to linger, to look closely, and to find your own way into its quiet, mysterious world.