Chicago 1948

Harry Callahan made this photograph, in Chicago using black and white film. The first thing I notice is how the delicate branches reach out, dancing across the snow. I can imagine Callahan, bundled up against the Chicago cold, carefully framing this shot, maybe waiting for the perfect moment when the light hit just right. The snow isn't just a backdrop; it’s almost like another character in the photo, giving everything a hushed, peaceful vibe. It reminds me of Agnes Martin’s quiet grids, or even some of the stark landscapes by Hiroshi Sugimoto – a conversation across time and mediums. Callahan is doing something similar here, asking us to slow down and notice the beauty in what's around us. It’s a gentle nudge to see the extraordinary in the everyday. And that, to me, is what art is all about – making the invisible visible.