James Joyce 1928

This is a black and white photograph of James Joyce, taken by Berenice Abbott. I wonder, what was it like to work with this intense and brilliant figure? Joyce looks smart and serious, but there's also something of a dandy in his striped tie, and the rings on his fingers. Abbott has placed him slightly to the right of the frame. His gaze drifts off towards the left, and he is leaning slightly, which makes me feel like he’s about to get up and leave. The cane, the hat, the suit – all these props give us a sense of his character, but his eyes tell us something more. Abbott was also an intellectual, deeply involved in the artistic and literary scenes of her time. I'm sure she and Joyce had plenty to talk about. When we look at portraits, we are drawn to imagine the relationship between sitter and artist, and to think about what kind of performance they were both putting on.