Untitled (Illusion of boy holding two boys in hands) 1956

This photograph was captured in July of 1956 by an anonymous artist, using what looks like a pretty standard camera of the time, black and white film, the kind that gives everything a slightly dreamy, vintage feel. The artist is having fun playing with perspective; a seated boy appears to hold two other boys in his hands. I can imagine them all laughing as they try to get the alignment just right, tilting and shifting to make the illusion work. It's like a playful dance between the camera and the subjects, each trying to outsmart the other. The whole thing reminds me of those old optical illusions you’d find in kids’ books. It's simple, but it messes with your mind in a delightful way. It makes you wonder about the other tricks these boys might have tried, the other stories they could tell with a camera. There is a conversation happening between the photographer and the photographed, an exchange of ideas across time, inspiring playfulness and creativity.