The da Silva Family at Dawn 1961

Gordon Parks took this photograph of The da Silva Family at Dawn with a camera; the image works with the monochrome palette to imply light and shadow. It strikes me how artmaking, whether photography, painting, or sculpture, is always a process of revealing and concealing, of choosing what to show and what to leave out. Looking at the surface, I see the texture of the wood, the softness of the blankets, and the smooth skin of the children. The way Parks plays with light is particularly striking; some areas are sharp with clarity, while others dissolve into darkness. The faces of the sleeping children are both there and not there, emerging from the shadows. It reminds me of the way a painter builds up layers of paint, creating depth and complexity through the interplay of opacity and transparency. Parks reminds us that art is not just about what we see, but how we see it. It is a way of making sense of the world. Like Walker Evans, Parks uses photography to document social realities. But it also allows for a personal expression and the ongoing dialogue between artists across time.