Washington, DC 1988

Editor: So this gelatin-silver print, titled *Washington, DC*, was created by Rosalind Solomon in 1988. It's a black and white photograph of a woman embracing a man, but her gaze is directed right at the viewer. There's something unsettling, almost confrontational about it. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s fascinating how Solomon captures intimacy and vulnerability within the photographic frame. The woman’s direct gaze is certainly a powerful symbolic gesture. Consider the historical and cultural weight of portraiture itself - for centuries, it was a means of conveying status, power, or ideal beauty. But here, we have an image that seems to resist those traditional conventions. The intimacy of the hug clashes with the woman's wary expression. Editor: Right. It's like she's sharing a private moment, but also holding something back. Curator: Exactly. And that withholding speaks volumes. What symbols might you recognize in this image that reveal tensions between personal experience and collective history? Editor: I'm not sure... The balloon in the background, maybe? That could be a symbol of celebration... but it also feels out of place, given the intensity of her gaze. It is like joy and unease are coexisting. Curator: A keen observation! And consider the broader symbolism of touch, the embrace. Throughout history, the embrace has been portrayed in a wide array of artworks from the "Kiss of Judas" to countless representations of the "Madonna and Child" signifying greeting, farewell, betrayal, and profound familial connection. What stories are the figures telling in this image? The composition encourages us to ponder themes of family, memory, and perhaps, even unspoken anxieties related to place or time. What’s your sense? Editor: I hadn't thought about the different meanings of embrace. It does make you wonder what their relationship is and what's going on beyond what we can see. This image certainly prompts reflection. Curator: Precisely. Images invite a dialogue. Each symbol, each compositional choice offers entry into a complex web of meaning that resonates across time and cultures.