Untitled (Two women harvesting cotton) c. 1920s

This photograph, "Untitled (Two women harvesting cotton)," made by an anonymous artist, captures two figures in a field, rendered in a palette of sepia tones. The details emerge gradually, like memories surfacing from the depths. What strikes me is the texture—the rough, tangled cotton plants rendered with such clarity, especially in the foreground. The way they reach out, almost obscuring the figures, speaks to the labor and the physical nature of the work. If you zoom in, you’ll notice the bag they are filling, a swelling form which anchors the composition. It's heavy with meaning, with history. It's a quiet gesture, a testament to the resilience and endurance of those who have been rendered anonymous by history. This piece reminds me of the work of Dawoud Bey, in that he is also thinking about the lives of Black people in America. Both artists are interested in creating a space for reflection, a space where we can grapple with the complexities of the past. Art, after all, is an invitation to engage, to question, and to remember.