Robert Gould Shaw Memorial c. 1973 - 2008

This is Richard Benson's photograph of the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. Look at the way Benson teases out all of these gray tones. It reminds me of the way we, as artists, start with a single idea and then push it, pull it, and let it become something new. Here, the texture isn't just visual; you can almost feel the rough stone of the monument. See how the light catches on the soldiers' faces, each one different, each one etched with determination. It's not just about the perfect shot, it's about capturing the weight of history and the humanity within it. Benson’s image is like a conversation with other artists who have grappled with similar themes of history and memory. Like Fred Wilson, Benson challenges us to look deeper, to question what we think we know. Art isn’t about answers; it’s about the questions we ask along the way.