Woman and Boy, Tenancingo Possibly 1933 - 1967

Paul Strand made this photograph, "Woman and Boy, Tenancingo" sometime in his career, capturing a moment in Mexico. The grayscale tones are so rich, like a charcoal drawing, and there’s a softness to the image that almost feels like it was built up through layers, a photographic process of adding and subtracting. Looking closely, the texture of the boy's poncho is incredible, it’s so tactile, you can almost feel the rough weave of the fabric. And the way the light catches the woman's shawl, creating these subtle striations. It’s all about the surface, the physicality of the materials, and how Strand uses light to bring them to life. The way he has chosen to emphasize the weave of the fabric is reminiscent of the way Gustav Klimt would highlight the patterns in his portraits. The beauty of art, whether it’s photography or painting, is that it invites us to see the world in new ways, to linger on details, and to find meaning in the seemingly ordinary. It’s like a visual conversation that keeps evolving over time.