Mensen van Javaanse oorsprong 1900 - 1910

This is a photograph called ‘Mensen van Javaanse oorsprong’ by Eugen Klein. Look at the way the image is constructed, the tonal range feels so considered, so balanced. Photography is really about how light and shadow play together, isn’t it? What really strikes me is the tonal range; it's like a whispered conversation between blacks and whites. The fabric of the clothes are full of intricate patterns. These details invite you to lean in and really consider the craftwork. The umbrella is a dark focal point. You can almost feel the texture of the woven mat they're sitting on. It reminds me a bit of the work of August Sander, who did these really incredible portraits of people in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Both artists share a similar approach, using the camera to document and share their observations. Art is like that, an ongoing dialogue across time. It's about how we see each other, how we see ourselves, and how we keep the conversation going.