Yuma 7 1949 1949

Aaron Siskind took this photograph in 1949, it's called Yuma 7. The contrast between the dark asphalt and light paint makes for a striking composition. I wonder, was Siskind thinking about Franz Kline when he took this? I can imagine him wandering around Yuma, Arizona, and then bam! – he sees it, this accidental painting on the ground. The way the white paint is peeling off, it’s almost like an action painting. I bet he felt like he was discovering something new. The texture of the asphalt feels rough. It’s like the city itself is a canvas, constantly being reworked and changed by accident and intention. Painters and photographers are often in dialogue, picking up on each other’s cues and pushing the boundaries of what art can be. We're all just trying to make sense of the world in our own way.