Chanel Launches Jet Sequins, Harper’s Bazaar 1933

Toni von Horn created this gelatin silver print, Chanel Launches Jet Sequins, for Harper’s Bazaar, and it’s all about surfaces, and how they play with light. The photograph presents a figure adorned in sequins, their arrangement is so dense that the garment takes on a life of its own, almost a second skin. Look how the light interacts with those tiny reflectors. It's like von Horn is painting with light, using the sequins as her brushstrokes. Now, focus on the woman's face, so serene. I love how von Horn manages to create this contrast between the static face and the energetic surface of the jacket. It reminds me of Man Ray, who also experimented with light and texture in his photography. Ultimately, it's a testament to the idea that art is a conversation, an exchange of ideas across time and mediums.