A woman and her dog in the Harlem section

Gordon Parks’ photograph A woman and her dog in the Harlem section, our latest edition of the legendary artist’s work, is a poignant example of his unique ability to capture both the dignity and struggle of everyday life in Black America as he saw it. Taken during Parks’ extensive documentation of Harlem in the mid-20th century, the image shows a beautiful, fashionable woman composed and proud beside her small dog, leaning out of what the viewer can assume is the window of her home. The prevailing prejudices in American culture painted Harlem with a rough brush, and her posture and attire contrast this with serene elegance. This juxtaposition—between grace and hardship, outside perception and actual reality—is a recurring theme in Parks’ work, and here it serves to elevate his subject within a society that marginalized her.