New York 1987

Rosalind Solomon made this photograph, New York, sometime around the late 20th century, with a kind of sharp simplicity that almost feels confrontational. The composition is stark, black and white, giving it a timeless quality, like something from another era, even if the subject is clearly modern. The textures pop: the smooth glass of the city behind, the shaggy cushions of the sofa, the patterned carpet. And right there in the middle is the man, who almost seems like he wants to be anywhere else. His button-down shirt, his glasses, all meticulously placed, give the picture an element of control. But then you notice the throw cushion, emblazoned with "You can't be too rich or too thin." I think it’s this sort of contrast that gives the photo such a distinctive tension. I’m reminded a little of Diane Arbus, that same interest in the everyday but off-kilter. Both artists have a way of capturing the humanity, and maybe also the absurdity, in even the most composed situations. What’s it all about? Who knows! And isn’t that the point?