Unidentified Woman (Young Blonde in Blue Polyester Blazer) 1974

Andy Warhol captured this Unidentified Woman, probably in the 70s, in a photograph. The color palette is muted—earthy blonds and browns, pale skin, and a bluish-gray blazer. I wonder what it was like for Warhol to take photographs of people? Did he already know who he was going to photograph? This image has a casual feel, like a snapshot or a polaroid—something quick and unrehearsed. I bet he took tons of pictures. The image's slightly faded quality makes the woman feel like a relic of a bygone era, like something he found. The surface of the photograph is smooth and matte, without any texture, which creates a strange kind of distance. And yet, there’s something intimate about the photograph, too. I want to see more of her. I want to know who she is! It reminds me of other portrait photographers, like Diane Arbus, who find the sublime in everyday subjects. Artists are always looking at each other's work. They inspire each other. It's a conversation across time.