Untitled 1993

Editor: This untitled gelatin silver print by Thomas Roma from 1993 really strikes me with its sense of quiet intensity. The monochrome adds a layer of seriousness to the scene. What's your take on it? Curator: Ah, yes, Roma. He had a gift for capturing those fleeting moments, didn’t he? For me, this image sings of faith and community, a silent harmony of individuals caught in a shared ritual. The monochrome elevates it, stripping away the distractions of color to focus on texture, light, and, dare I say, soul. Notice how the hands raised aren't uniform? It’s as though each person is connecting to something deeply personal within this collective act. Editor: I see that now. The textures really do stand out—the fabric of the clothes, the different skin tones... Were gelatin silver prints common then? Curator: Absolutely. Gelatin silver was the workhorse of photography for decades. Its rich tonal range and relative permanence made it ideal for capturing, well, life. And in Roma’s hands, ordinary life is made extraordinary. Look at the light illuminating each face— almost reverential. What do you suppose is being said in this scene? Editor: Maybe a prayer, or some sort of benediction? I like how the photograph offers intimacy despite there being so many people in it. Curator: Precisely! Roma masterfully used his lens to offer that feeling. Perhaps this photo also challenges us to think about what brings us together in moments of uncertainty. He certainly gave me much to think about when I first viewed the work! Editor: It makes you feel as though you are in that very room, part of that shared experience. I see that, thank you!