Barb and Leo on Couch c. 1963 - 1971

Joanne Leonard captured this moment, Barb and Leo on a Couch, in silver gelatin. I love the way the light defines their forms, especially how it illuminates Barb’s hands clasped in Leo’s. There's a tenderness there, a quiet intimacy, like a held breath. What strikes me is how Leonard uses shadow to envelop Leo, creating a sense of mystery around him while Barb is bathed in light, her expression open and vulnerable. I wonder what Leonard was thinking, what she wanted to convey. Was she trying to capture a fleeting moment of connection, or something more profound about love and relationships? Maybe she felt like she was also capturing a very specific moment in time. Artists are always in conversation with each other, across time and space. I bet that someone like Garry Winogrand would have been excited by her use of light, and how she captures this specific moment. Ultimately, it is a reminder that art is not about fixed meanings but about opening up possibilities for interpretation and feeling.