Broken Nose Possibly 1991 - 1994

Jim Goldberg's 'Broken Nose' is a photograph, and what strikes me first is the light. It's not just about seeing; it's about how we see, the choices we make in framing reality. The texture in this image is palpable. The graininess of the photograph itself, the almost painful detail around the lips and eyes – it’s confrontational, immediate. Goldberg isn’t hiding behind slickness; he’s inviting you to witness something raw. Look at the way the light catches on the skin, almost like a topographical map of someone's life etched onto their face. It reminds me of Nan Goldin's work, that same unflinching gaze into lives lived on the margins. But it’s not just about documenting; it’s about empathy, about acknowledging the shared humanity in these moments of vulnerability. Art, at its best, is an invitation to look closer, to feel more, and to question everything.