Untitled #1 (Picket Fence and Farmhouse) 2017

Dawoud Bey's "Untitled #1 (Picket Fence and Farmhouse)" from 2017 is a black and white photograph that captures a simple scene of a white picket fence in front of a farmhouse. The image is composed in a way that emphasizes the fence, which is the primary focus of the composition. Bey's work is often focused on exploring themes of race, identity, and social justice, and this piece exemplifies his interest in the everyday lives of Black Americans. By framing the farmhouse through the fence, Bey suggests a sense of both enclosure and exclusion. The dark shadows and the limited details of the farmhouse create a sense of mystery, leaving the viewer to contemplate the life that may exist beyond the fence.