Pledging Allegiance to the Flag in a School in Puerto Rico 1946

Jack Delano made this gelatin silver print of a school in Puerto Rico, we don’t know exactly when. It’s a photograph of a young girl holding an American flag, and it's got this incredible stillness, a quietness, that just pulls you in. The grayscale is so rich and complex. It's not just about light and dark, it's about texture and feeling. Look at the way the light catches on the wooden floorboards, each plank with its unique grain. And then the chalkboard behind her, dense with writing and drawings. It's all about surfaces, how they absorb and reflect light, how they feel to the touch. There is a tension created by the solemnity of the child, versus the chaos of the information behind her. The eye is drawn to the girl, her gaze intense, and the way she holds the flag. What does it mean to her? Delano leaves the question unanswered, encouraging us to contemplate the complexities of identity, patriotism, and belonging. Like all good art, it leaves you pondering.