Arthur Moos met sabel in het uniform van het Duitse leger, met het IJzeren Kruis op de borst, gezeten op een stoelleuning, december 1914 1914

In December 1914, Hermann Brandseph created this photograph of Arthur Moos in his German army uniform, complete with a saber and the Iron Cross. Looking at this sepia toned image, I am struck by the way the light seems to sculpt the subject, almost like painting with light. The textures are fascinating – the crispness of the uniform contrasts with the soft, almost blurred background. The Iron Cross on his chest catches the light, a small but powerful focal point. I wonder about the physical act of creating this image. Was it a single, decisive moment, or a carefully orchestrated process? I imagine Brandseph, adjusting the light, arranging the pose, all to capture something essential about Arthur Moos. This photograph feels like a conversation across time. It reminds me a little of August Sander, who also sought to document the German people with a similar sense of directness and honesty. What do you think?