Reston Flashback: Russet Brown Bob Ross

Set the controls of the Earth-Toned Wayback Machine to sometime in the 1970s, where we arrive at the pre-strip mall Hunters Woods Village Center to witness this moment frozen in amber, courtesy of a photo presumably taken by a 1970s-era smartphone (a camera, without the "phone" or "smart" parts).

Yes, kids, this is what passed for a "selfie" during that era, with soothing earth-toned pastels substituting for those, whazzitcalled, filters that give you dog ears or whatever. There's a lot going on here, between the not-so-happy model, Russet Brown Bob Ross working away, and the thoughtful observer, contemplating the choice of perspective and the artist's finger smudge technique, reminiscent of the chiaroscuro employed by the great masters, if the great masters were doing portraits in a shopping center for $20 a pop. All's we know is that this is the most drama we've seen at Hunters Woods since this literal piece of drama, the end.

Shout out to Reston, Remember When's awesome Instagram page.