Model Study 2 2008

Elina Brotherus made this photograph, Model Study 2, with light and shadow, finding something in the process. I am drawn to the way the light pours in from the window, illuminating the model and casting a soft glow on the room. There's a quiet, contemplative mood here, and the model's gaze is direct, yet vulnerable. The way she's posed, sitting on the edge of the bed with a shirt draped loosely over her shoulders, is a study in contrasts: strength and fragility, exposure and protection. Think of the light, it’s a real character here, and how it interacts with the textures of the wall, the bedsheets, and the model's skin. In some ways it reminds me of the work of the painter Vilhelm Hammershøi. But whereas Hammershøi uses a limited palette of greys and browns, Brotherus uses color in a more nuanced way, creating a feeling of warmth and intimacy. Like all art, there is an invitation to reflect on the nature of seeing, feeling, and being in the world.