Gloucester, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lopez. They have two boys in the armed forces, six children altogether. He is a fish skinner in the Gorton-Pew fishery after 1943

Gordon Parks made this photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lopez in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It's a black and white photograph, so we're already dealing with a kind of abstraction, a reduction of the world to tones and shades, that immediately heightens the sense of process. The floral wallpaper behind the couple is busy, almost claustrophobic, and it competes with the polka dots on Mrs. Lopez's dress. Parks uses light and shadow to bring out the texture of their clothing and faces, the fine lines etched by time and labor. Look at the way the light catches the rims of their glasses, how it flattens and widens their faces, emphasizing their direct, unwavering gaze. This image has the feel of say, Walker Evans, in its unflinching portrayal of everyday people. But Parks brings something unique, a sense of intimacy and respect that elevates the ordinary to the iconic. In doing so, he reminds us that art isn't just about beauty; it's about empathy, connection, and seeing the world in new and meaningful ways.