This photo by Mary Ellen Mark is part of the Ward 81 collection and pictures a very bare lunch tray. What make this image stand out among the others in the collection is its simplicity, organization, and composition compared to the other photographs of the collection. Ward 81 is mainly comprised of patients’ photos, but this lone photo of a tray is a standout for the objects on the tray. On the tray lies a napkin with the text “Easter Greetings” which is ironic because Easter is a very festive time of year for Christians, but this napkin represents the celebration very plainly and is accompanied only by a spoon. Nothing of the image gives the idea of a joyous time of year that Easter brings. Another ironic element of the napkin and its message is that, while it is proclaiming Easter Greetings, people will wipe their faces on the napkin, wasting it, and eventually throwing it away. While the sparsity of the image caught my attention, the smaller details are revealing and ultimately interesting to interpret.
Mark, Mary Ellen. “Ward 81, Oregon State Hospital,Salem, Oregon, 1976300B-028-010, number 30/97.” Mary Ellen Mark. http://www.maryellenmark.com/books/titles/ward_81/300B-028-010_ward81_520.html