Toilet 1991

This black and white photograph, simply titled "Toilet," was made by Jim Goldberg sometime after 1953. The scene plunges us right into the thick of it with its stark contrasts and gritty textures. It’s like a painterly study in monochrome. Look at how the light catches the peeling paint and stagnant water. There are so many shades of grey. Goldberg’s really playing with the surface, from the smooth, almost velvety blacks to the rough, granular patches. I'm drawn to the upper left corner, where the wall seems to dissolve into a ghostly landscape. You could get lost in the way the light and dark fight for dominance. This photo feels connected to Robert Frank’s work, but with an even rawer edge. Both artists share this knack for finding beauty, or at least something compelling, in the everyday and overlooked. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected corners, even in a place as unglamorous as a toilet.