Multiple Exposure Tree, Chicago 1956

Harry Callahan made this photograph, "Multiple Exposure Tree, Chicago," using, well, photography. And like any good photograph, it isn’t just about seeing, but about layering ways of seeing. Look closely. The tree isn’t just a tree, it’s a ghost of a tree, a memory. Callahan hasn’t hidden the process, he's embraced it, allowed the image to blur and shift. This reminds me of a Cy Twombly painting. Those scribbles aren't just marks; they're palimpsests of gestures, where the act of creation becomes as important as the image itself. See that one branch that almost makes a heart shape? It’s a reminder that even in the starkest of forms, there’s a pulse, a life force trying to break through. This photograph isn't just about a tree, it's about time, about how we perceive and remember. Like a painting, it embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences to the frame.