Portret van de tenor Beniamino Gigli, als de hertog van Mantua in de opera Rigoletto 1937

Mario Camuzzi made this portrait of Beniamino Gigli, dressed as the Duke of Mantua, probably with a camera and darkroom. There's a stark contrast here between light and shadow, which makes the image pop. It's all shades of grey, but there’s also a feeling of movement in the way the light catches the details of the Duke's costume and then fades towards the background. Look at the frills of the collar. There’s a lot of detail here and a lot of variation in tone, giving an impression of a solid and multifaceted form. I notice that the image looks hand-signed, but I can’t make out the name. For me, this image reminds me of the portraits made by Nadar – they're both about capturing a likeness but also about conveying something of the sitter's character. In the end, art is all about conversations across time, isn't it?