Portretten 1940 - 1945

This set of portraits, whose maker is now unknown, offers a glimpse into a life, a world, once lived. The images are presented in monochrome, each one a study in tone and texture, from the deep shadows to the bright highlights catching on the faces. In the portrait on the right, the artist – or photographer – frames the subject in profile, catching the sharp line of his nose and the set of his jaw. It’s direct, and yet distant. The way the light falls across the man’s face is fascinating, creating a contrast between the light and shadow, revealing and concealing simultaneously. It reminds me of the work of Gerhard Richter, who also used photography as a starting point for his paintings, blurring the lines between representation and abstraction, memory and reality. In a way, this album is a pre-echo of his work, reminding us that art is an ongoing conversation, where ideas are constantly reinterpreted and transformed across time.