Untitled 1961

This photograph was made by Frederick Sommer sometime during his career, using the gelatin silver process. A mainstay of twentieth-century photography, it involves coating paper with light-sensitive silver halides. Sommer’s choice of gelatin silver gives the image its distinctive tonal range, from deep blacks to luminous grays. But it is not just the material that matters; it is also how Sommer used it. His darkroom expertise allowed him to manipulate the image, achieving a delicate balance between detail and softness. The result is a body that seems both present and ethereal. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, the photograph challenges traditional notions of fine art. Sommer elevates photography to a high art form through his mastery of materials and techniques. The labour involved in the darkroom – the careful development, dodging, and burning – becomes as important as the subject matter itself. By focusing on the materiality of the photograph, Sommer invites us to reconsider the boundaries between art and craft.