Eleanor, Indiana 1948

Harry Callahan made this gelatin silver print, Eleanor, Indiana, sometime in the mid-twentieth century. A figure stands in the distance looking out over a nondescript body of water, while behind them a sandy dune rises up towards the sky. I wonder what it was like to be Callahan making this image? Did he have to wait for the perfect light, or did he shoot this quickly? I imagine he was thinking about the relationship between figure and ground, and how the two could be used to create a sense of depth and space. The way the darks and lights play off each other is really beautiful. It's almost like a drawing, with the shadows defining the forms. Callahan was a master of composition and light, and this image is a great example of his skill. But he wasn’t the only one doing this – artists always reflect each other and respond to each other’s work. The image continues to inspire artists today.