Sand Erosion, Horseneck Beach, Massachusetts Possibly 1978 - 1979

Harry Callahan made this gelatin silver print, Sand Erosion, Horseneck Beach, Massachusetts, with a camera, a darkroom, and a healthy dose of chance. Look at how the tones shift from almost-white to a deep, oceanic blue. You can see the marks of his process everywhere, like the grain of the sand magnified and made visible. It’s like he’s painting with light and shadow instead of paint. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids, but wilder, more unruly. See how that central channel draws your eye up the frame? It’s a simple gesture, really, just water carving its way through sand, but Callahan makes it monumental. Callahan’s not trying to hide anything. He lets the medium speak for itself, embracing the imperfections. It's a bit like what Minor White was up to, finding the spiritual in the everyday. For Callahan, beauty isn't about perfection; it's about seeing the poetry in the process.