The Brown Sisters, Wellesley, Massachusetts 1988

Nicholas Nixon made this photograph, "The Brown Sisters, Wellesley, Massachusetts", sometime in the late 20th century. I'm immediately drawn into their eyes, which seem to hold a mix of vulnerability and strength. I wonder what it was like for them to stand there, year after year, under Nixon's lens. It's a testament to time and relationships, how they shift and deepen. Each face tells a story, etched with the marks of experience and emotion. Looking at their posture, I imagine the bond between the sisters, a silent support system that has weathered life's storms. Nixon has captured something so intimate and real; in other hands, it could easily be sentimental. But the honesty with which they look back at the camera is arresting. The Brown Sisters remind me of other artists who work with seriality to explore time and change, like On Kawara and his date paintings. Ultimately, it's a poignant reflection on aging, connection, and the enduring power of family.