Clemens Freiherr Von Schorlemer-lieser 1917

This is a portrait of Clemens Freiherr Von Schorlemer-Lieser by Nicola Perscheid, made with photography. The photograph's tonal range reminds me of a grayscale painting, and I'm drawn to how Perscheid coaxes so much variation out of a limited palette. Look at the texture in the upper right background, the way the soft, feathered light almost seems to float. It's like a Rothko, but in monochrome. There is such presence in the rendering of Clemens' face. The artist has captured the way the light catches in his eyes, the slight lines around his mouth, the weight of his brow. All these little details add up to something so real and intimate. I imagine Perscheid working with a large format camera and spending time in the darkroom, coaxing the image into being, much like I work with my canvases in my studio. You can feel the artist's labor and intention in every inch. This photo reminds me of the work of August Sander, who also sought to capture the faces of his time with such clarity and depth. These works remind me that art is always in conversation with what has come before and what is yet to come.