Eleanor, Port Huron 1942

This black and white photograph captures Eleanor’s arm resting on the sand, probably taken by Harry Callahan in Port Huron. I can almost feel the sun, the way it heats the skin, and the rough texture of the sand. Eleanor is probably lying there, still, maybe daydreaming, or talking, or maybe just tired. Callahan is looking closely at her arm, the sand, and the shadows, noticing how the light wraps around the forms. It’s like he's painting with light, making shapes and lines, and creating a world from almost nothing. Callahan often photographed his wife, Eleanor, and their daughter. He seemed to find endless inspiration in their presence. It is almost like he was trying to understand something about love, or what it means to be close to someone. What does it mean to really see someone? Artists look at each other’s work, then respond. It is a slow conversation between people across time.