Joseph Dittfeld 1992

Nancy Andrews made this gelatin silver print of Joseph Dittfeld, but when? It’s undated. I like that. The high contrast gives it such a graphic punch. It’s a study in light and shadow, really. See how the light rakes across Joseph’s face and chest? Those hard-edged stripes create an abstract pattern. It’s like he’s wearing a mask, or has been caught in the bars of a cell. The light is so severe, yet it also seems to lift the image, imbuing the subject with a serene glow. But it’s not all drama, the star of david pendant and easy smile point to a man at peace. And isn’t that what great art does? It holds contradictions. Like the best Diane Arbus or Lisette Model images, it lingers in your mind precisely because it refuses to be pinned down.