Mary Ellen Mark’s book “Ward 81” features many powerful images of patients at the Oregon State Hospital. This one in particular stood out to me. Its subject is a woman dressed in black, which contrasts starkly against the light, plain tiles of the background. Her face is calm, almost pleasant however her hands are strapped and restrained to her wait. This interested me in the photo because there is a contrast between the context and idea of being restrained, and the calmness of her face and body positioning. This makes the photo very interesting, especially compared to many of the other photographs in the book that features patients experiencing much more intense emotions.
Ward 81, Oregon State Hospital, Salem, Oregon, 1976