Untitled 1992

Editor: This is an untitled gelatin silver print by Thomas Roma from 1992. I am struck by how this seemingly simple black and white photograph captures a very personal moment. It's almost voyeuristic, yet respectful. What do you see in this piece, especially given your interest in symbolism? Curator: What I immediately notice is the very potent image of intercession. The hands placed upon the woman’s head, contrasted with the raised hand of the woman beside her, act as strong visual signsifiers for the presence, blessing, or intervention of a higher power. Consider how the pearl necklace and earrings catch light and convey notions of reverence and even a spiritual purification, given pearls have long been symbolically linked to purity and incorruptibility. Do you see the historical connections within the work? Editor: Now that you mention it, there’s definitely a tie to religious iconography here, isn’t there? The gesture of laying hands, for example, is seen across so many religions, representing healing, blessing, or empowerment. But it feels specifically relevant to traditions within Black communities. Curator: Precisely. And look at the other hand gestures. In what ways might one relate the subject and community to iconic representations across faith and cultural heritage, especially looking at performance and emotion? The layering of meanings, drawn from collective cultural memory, create a very charged image. Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered the hands to have such powerful ties to the culture memory. The framing now speaks even more. Curator: Exactly! Photography becomes a container for the convergence of individual experience and shared symbolic language, a way of making private belief, in its external expression, public, and moreover lasting, culturally. Editor: I now appreciate that Thomas Roma's work can capture such meaningful cultural dynamics. Thanks for your insight. Curator: Indeed! Every artistic choice carries resonance beyond the immediate moment, reflecting cultural values and continuities.