Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 1914

This is a photograph of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, by Aura Hertwig. It’s a classic portrait, all black and white, focusing on capturing a likeness, but it’s also clearly aware of itself as an image, carefully composed to create a certain mood. Look at how Hertwig handles the light and shadow. It's not just about representation; it's about creating depth and texture, adding an emotional dimension to the image. There is a softness to the way the light falls on Kirchner's face, the blurring around the edges adds to this effect. The way Kirchner holds the cigarette is really fascinating. It is held carefully in his hand. It's almost as if he's a philosopher pausing in thought. This gesture adds to the feeling that this is about more than just a likeness of a person. Hertwig’s piece is evocative of other early modernist portraits, I’m thinking of August Sander, who also worked in photography to explore the idea of portraiture in the early 20th century. All of this reminds me that art is a conversation, always building on what came before, yet always finding new ways to see the world.