Behind the Scenes c. 20th century

Robert Demachy created this photograph titled Behind the Scenes. He had his own darkroom, where he mixed photography with painting. I can just imagine Demachy in his studio, trying to conjure the feeling of a blurry, hazy memory. It's like he's saying, "I'm not just capturing what's there; I'm messing with it, nudging it, pushing it until it reveals something more." I can see him layering and manipulating the emulsion, building up this world of soft focus and dreamy light, almost like he is recreating Degas’ ballerinas in a photography studio! That smoky effect around the edges - that's the hand of the artist right there. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation, borrowing and riffing off each other's ideas across time. Painting and photography are both forms of embodied expression. They embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings. The possibilities are truly endless.