Unidentified Man (Thick Black Hair) 1980

This photographic print of an unidentified man with thick black hair was made by Andy Warhol. The man is captured with a hand on his chin, which gives him a posed, almost sculptural feel. It's a very classic pose but there's something so nonchalant about it, too. You get the sense that he's just being himself. This is what Warhol was so good at – capturing an authentic attitude. The way he's slightly squinting is so very human. The color palette is simple: the off-white background and the dark greens and browns of his suit and hair. The color scheme makes me think of mid-century advertising. It's interesting that Warhol made an image that feels so intimate but also has the vibe of mass culture. When I look at this photo I think about how artists are in an ongoing conversation, always responding to one another and inspiring creativity. It's very cool.