Artist of the Week / Gordon Parks

This photograph by Gordon Parks is quite adorable, the curious and venturing eyes of the man looking around are the definite focal point of the photograph. The capturing of this photograph at the ground places the man in the perfect position turning him into the center of attention. The smooth white light above the ground cover makes him almost glow, and the blurry landscape casts our attention back onto the man. As though creating the venturing persona of a photographer this photograph displays the man with dirty hands and in a strange position.

This famous photograph called American Gothic was taken because of rampant racism. It portrays a black woman in Washington DC with mops by her side. The American flag behind her seems to say "This is America, the land of racism" implying that there is great injustice. The old style of her dress gives away the time period and the vertical way the flag is draped is actually quite strange.