Taylor Dunn
Edward Weston "Cabbage Leaf"
1931, Gelatin Silver Print
Everything about this image, Edward Weston created, seems to be something else until you look more closely; I thought I was first looking at the ripples and lines of a gown worn by a woman. Even when it is understood the image is of a cabbage leaf it is difficult to let go of some of the humanistic elements created by the texture of the vegetable and the soft top light used in the photograph. Our brains try to make sense of the images we see and add the human touch to everything. Some of the human qualities the cabbage leaf possess are the veins and spine that seems to travel from the top of the image down the bottom, left center. The shadow creates a depth within the folds of the leaf which is highlighted by the veins. This invokes a sense of connectivity and symbiosis between light and dark. The shape of the leaf is something rising out of the shadow and lifting up closer towards the light source. All the lines seem to be reaching towards the light which could also be seen as a reach toward hope, strength or positivity. The solid black background makes for an ideal contrast between the leaf in the foreground causing the grays and whites to pop. The image overall is the epitome for the saying "Simplicity is key".
