23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Past and Present
A young man, engrossed in the digital world of his phone, stands before a painting. The artwork itself merges an antique bust with the faded, spectral image of an elderly woman also looking at her phone. The juxtaposition of the modern viewer and the figures in the painting collapses time, suggesting a shared human experience across generations and eras, one now mediated by technology. The image explores themes of connection, reflection, and the way we engage with history and art today
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 09.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 09.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Montreal, Canada |
| Copyright: | © Mia Ma |