Portret van een man in uniform 1903 - 1914

This image, “Portret van een man in uniform,” comes from Atelier Wertheim, but we don’t know when it was made, or with what. But look at this man’s mustache! It’s like a tiny, perfectly trimmed sculpture sitting right there on his face. The soft gradations of tone create a sense of depth and volume, while the crisp edges of his uniform and cap give the image a sense of formality. The studio has played with light and shadow to create form, and even the blank areas communicate a mood. It’s interesting how much emotion can be conveyed through such simple means. Does it remind you of other artists working in photography at this time, like August Sander, for instance? Maybe this photo is part of an ongoing conversation about how we use images to represent ourselves and others, leaving much open to interpretation.