The Boss Possibly 1932 - 1981

Prentice H. Polk made "The Boss" with photography. It's about presence, that's for sure! I can imagine Polk watching and waiting for the right moment, adjusting the light, and then, click. She's there, solid and powerful. What was she thinking when he took her picture? Is she a domestic worker? A store owner? There’s real texture in those clothes, the knitted vest, the headscarf, and that confident gaze. It's a direct image, and the light feels really important. I'm thinking of other photographers like Diane Arbus, who also captured these kinds of powerful, everyday people. In some ways, artists are always in conversation with each other, even across time. They leave space for our own feelings, our own interpretations, and ways of seeing.