Untitled 1992

Thomas Roma made this photograph with light and silver, capturing a moment of quietude. The composition feels so immediate, like Roma just walked in and snapped the picture as he saw it. The tonal range of the photograph is gorgeous. It’s all black and white, but the artist coaxes so many shades of gray. Look at the way light catches the woman's patterned blouse. It almost feels like the fabric is illuminated from within, doesn’t it? Then, there’s the stark contrast of the child’s white clothes against the darker wood of the pew. You can almost feel the cool smoothness of the wood under your fingertips. This piece makes me think of the unflinching realism of some of the early photographers like Walker Evans. But Roma adds something more, a sense of tenderness and intimacy. It reminds us that art isn't about answers, but about seeing and feeling.