Appalachia 1962 - 1971

Milton Rogovin made this gelatin silver print of an elderly man in bed in Appalachia sometime in the 20th Century. Look at the way the light falls, almost shyly, across the man's face and the crisp white sheets, revealing every line and wrinkle with a tender honesty. The whole image feels so textured, from the rough-hewn logs of the walls to the intricate pattern of the floor. Each element seems to tell a story of time, place, and the quiet dignity of human existence. I like the way that all of these textures are pulled together by the strong verticals of the four-poster bed, which frame the scene. This photograph reminds me of the stark beauty in the documentary work of the Farm Security Administration during the Depression era. But Rogovin’s work also recalls the portraits of Lucian Freud in the way it manages to be both intimate and unflinching. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation, echoing voices from the past while finding new ways to speak to the present.