New York 1987

Editor: Rosalind Solomon's gelatin silver print, "New York," from 1987, has a stillness that really draws me in. There’s a striking contrast between the soft light dappling the figure's torso and the subject’s intense gaze. What can you tell me about how Solomon uses symbolism in this photograph? Curator: The rose beside the figure can represent love, beauty, but also transience. Consider the almost confrontational gaze and bare chest. The image calls to mind classical sculpture, figures often set within idealized gardens. What is missing or unexpected from a classical interpretation? Editor: Perhaps, the lack of idealization. The dappled light emphasizes natural imperfections, but that somehow adds to the strength and directness of the portrait. Curator: Precisely. It feels very direct, right? This image isn’t trying to be timeless in the classical sense. There's an honesty here, amplified by the imperfect shadows. Think of chiaroscuro lighting techniques in renaissance paintings; but how is it subverted here? Editor: Renaissance chiaroscuro often dramatizes religious scenes. Here, the drama is intimate and psychological. The viewer is left to wonder about the psychological space the sitter inhabits. Curator: Yes! The symbolism feels less prescriptive and more open to interpretation. It evokes a sense of individual experience rather than adhering to established cultural codes. We read vulnerability but also strength. The individual triumphs over classical conventions. Editor: That's fascinating, how the photo plays with historical references to convey something so modern. It's as though Solomon's photograph offers a new way of seeing beauty and identity, distinct from traditional ideals. Curator: I agree, this makes you consider not just the subject, but what endures over time versus what evolves in how we see the figure within culture.