Untitled 1992

This black and white photograph, by Thomas Roma, captures a moment of connection, maybe even a blessing. Look at how the hands reach out, a tender touch, a firm hold – it’s all in the gesture. I imagine Roma, moving through the space, waiting for the right instant to capture this exchange, this energy. The composition is so immediate, like a snapshot, but the light and shadow give it a timeless quality, like an old master painting. The Last Supper hangs in the background like an omen of things to come. What might Roma have been thinking when he released the shutter? How does this image speak to the tradition of street photography, or documentary making? Painting also works like this sometimes - the decisive moment. The ongoing conversation continues.