Mae Murray 1918

Adolph de Meyer captured Mae Murray in a photograph, sometime between the wars. Just imagine, Mae Murray sitting there in costume, holding a mirror, while de Meyer circles around her, trying to catch the light on her face. There’s something both painterly and performative about de Meyer’s photography. I see a softness and gentleness to it. It’s as if he’s trying to capture not just her image, but also her essence, her presence. And the light! De Meyer wasn’t just pointing and shooting; he was sculpting with light, coaxing it to caress her features, to make her almost glow. It makes me think about what it means to see and to be seen, and how the artist plays a role in shaping that vision. There's a conversation happening between the subject and photographer, a shared understanding of beauty, drama, and artifice. Ultimately, it's a reminder that art is always a collaboration.