In this figure photograph, a woman is depicted with seven books. She lays on a tan sofa; our point of view is from directly above her. One book props her head up, another she grips in her fingers. With her other hand she grips the edge of the couch. The remaining books, spanning a range of cover colors, are stacked near her feet.
The subject’s pose is deliberate: her arms and legs are positioned symmetrically and despite the position of the blue book, the composition is decidedly sensuous. This tone is echoed in the unusual way she grips the pages: without using her thumb. Her arms are both straight, and her grip with each hand implies a level of determination. Her boots are pressed into each other, sole to sole, and heels interlocked.
The framing of the elements implies a more impromptu encounter. The couch is at an angle, placing the largest block of color and texture at a diagonal to the frame. At the lower left corner is a hint of a handmade carpet. This tiny sliver of fabric runs at a contrary angle to the couch, serving to further disrupt any sense of straight horizontal or vertical structure.
Colors ranging from hazel to sepia to mahogany give this figure photograph a warm presence. Pattern and texture are throughout the art photograph. These include the upholstery on the sofa, the wood grain on the floor, the rug design, the book covers, and the main subject’s hair. The shapes in the artwork include the four-point stars and lines on the sofa, the curves of the cushions, and the rectangular shapes in the books and floor planks.
Additional details include a silver crescent symbol on a necklace around her neck. She looks out of the scene to something unseen. Energy radiates from her face. Her hair rolls of the edge of the cushion, and her shoulder is also slipping toward the edge.
