Untitled (Photogenic) 1946 - 1955

Lotte Jacobi made this gelatin silver print and called it 'Photogenic', but didn’t give it a specific title. I'm really drawn to the way Jacobi has captured light in this image, and it makes me think about my own process of layering and blending colors. This image isn’t a painting, of course, but like a painting it’s all about mark-making—or maybe “light-making” is a better way to describe it. I wonder what Jacobi was thinking about when she made it. The dark, sweeping lines on the left feel kind of ominous, but then the right side is so soft and dreamy. It’s like she’s playing with opposing forces, trying to find some kind of balance. It reminds me of the work of some other artists interested in light and dark, like László Moholy-Nagy. Anyway, this image makes me want to go back to my studio and experiment some more. It's just so cool how artists can inspire each other across time and mediums!