Julia’s Morning, with Window in Inverness, California c. 1975

This is Joanne Leonard's photograph, "Julia's Morning, with Window in Inverness, California." The silver gelatin print has a beautiful, soft focus, like a memory half-recalled. I'm drawn to the way Leonard uses light and shadow to create a sense of intimacy. Look at the window: it's the focal point, framed by frilly curtains. The light filters through, casting gentle shadows that soften the scene. There's a child asleep in a small cot, almost hidden in the shadows. The composition feels both casual and deliberate, like a snapshot of a quiet moment carefully constructed. The monochrome adds to its timeless quality, a sense of nostalgia. This reminds me a little of some of the early interior scenes by Édouard Vuillard, where domestic spaces become stages for quiet dramas. Both artists capture a kind of poetry in the everyday, finding beauty in the mundane. Ultimately, art is about seeing the world anew, and Leonard invites us to pause and appreciate the gentle beauty of a simple morning scene.