Toilette du matin (Mary Warner) 1907

Heinrich Kuhn made this photograph, Toilette du matin (Mary Warner), at some point in his career using a platinum print. The first thing that grabs me is the color, it’s overall warmth, like a memory fading into sepia. Then, the light, so diffused it’s like a gentle breath. The artist uses that light to build a space. The photograph feels so intimate, like a stolen moment. It's a scene of a woman at her dressing table, but it’s not so much about what she’s doing as about the mood of quiet, private reflection. This has the feeling of paintings by Hammershoi, with a similar interest in quiet domestic interiors. Kuhn and Hammershoi share a fascination with light, texture, and the subtle nuances of everyday life.