The photograph titled “Langston Hughes” was taken by artist Roy DeCarava in the year 1955. It depicts a middle-aged African American man in a relaxed, candid moment. He appears to be smiling or laughing, with his mouth slightly open, revealing his teeth, and he is holding what looks like a cigarette between his lips. His eyes are almost closed, possibly mid-blink, giving a sense of genuine expression caught in the moment. The man is dressed with an open collar shirt and a dark jacket, and the setting has a blurry background that suggests an outdoor scene with bare trees, which could indicate the photo was taken in a park during fall or winter. The image is in black and white, emphasizing the emotional content and the play of light and shadow over sharpness and color, characteristic of DeCarava’s photographic style.
