Barber Shop Interior, Atlanta 1936

Walker Evans made this photograph, Barber Shop Interior, Atlanta, using silver and gelatin. It’s a loaded image, full of the textures of lived life and a quiet kind of dignity. I can’t help but think about Evans setting up his camera, framing the scene just so, in a place where folks probably didn't have much truck with art. What was it like for him, pointing his lens at this everyday space? You can almost feel the stillness, the weight of the chairs waiting for their next customer. The mirrors, slightly fogged, reflecting back a fragmented view of reality. The beauty in this piece lies in its simplicity, its honesty. It's like Evans is saying, "Look, this is it. This is what it is to be here, now." And in that, there's a profound sense of connection, a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, and that every artist borrows and builds on the work of those who came before.