Portret van een Sadakichi Hartmann before 1903

This portrait of Sadakichi Hartmann, by Edward Steichen, captures the artist as someone shrouded in thought. I love the way the light seems to be emerging from the darkness in this print, like a half-formed idea. The textures here are subtle, but they tell a story. The softness of the shadows around Hartmann's face gives way to sharper contrast around his features. It's almost as if Steichen is using light and shadow to reveal and conceal at the same time, playing with our perception. Look at how the darkness gathers around his collar, it creates a sense of mystery, pulling us into the subject's internal world. I find myself thinking of the work of Gerhard Richter, another artist who explores the possibilities of blurred and indistinct imagery. Both artists challenge us to look beyond the surface, engaging with the complexities of representation. Ultimately, art is about opening up questions rather than providing answers, embracing ambiguity and inviting multiple interpretations.