Photographs from the Estate of Isabel Wachenheimer 1932

This small, anonymous photograph from the Estate of Isabel Wachenheimer presents a tonal range of browns and sepias, a modest palette that asks us to look closely. The photograph is modest in scale, but rich in psychological detail. I’m drawn to the way the light catches the man’s face, the gentle focus of his gaze. There’s a warmth here, a sense of connection between the figures that the photographer has managed to capture. It’s a tender scene of familial love. The soft, almost blurry quality of the image only adds to its intimacy. It reminds me of the quiet moments that make up a life. Like a Gerhard Richter painting, there's a deliberate softening of focus that speaks to the way memory itself is often hazy. Both artists share an interest in the process of image-making as a way of understanding how we see and remember. Ultimately, what interests me most is the ambiguity and openness of the image. It’s an invitation to reflect on our own relationships and histories.