Alexandra Trianti 1933 - 1936

This is a photograph of Alexandra Trianti by Edith Barakovich, and you know what's so interesting, for me, is the way the portrait almost glows from within. The image is black and white and there's a softness to it, which gives the portrait a classic feel, yet, it is very contemporary. There is something very real about her. I imagine Barakovich working with light and shadow here, creating depth, and focusing on the subjects presence. Look at her eyes and that smile! What makes this photo sing to me is that the portrait has the subjects name written underneath. As though this image had been cut out from a newspaper. The context is lost and yet the image remains! I am reminded of Warhol's celebrity portraits. Maybe this is not a painting, but I appreciate this photo for the same reason I appreciate a good painting, for its capacity to be full of life and history.