Portret van Joseph Cheetham met muts en winterjas 1903 - 1904

This small photograph shows Joseph Cheetham, an unknown man wearing a very good hat and coat. Looking at this image, I can almost feel what it was like to be him, sitting there in the cold, waiting for the photograph to be taken. His coat is a rich brown color and looks warm and weighty. It would have taken a lot of concentration to create this piece; I think the artist was trying to create an intimate portrayal of himself, exploring how clothing shapes our perception of identity, using muted tones to convey a sense of melancholy. The artist is playing with light, shadow, and tone in a way that reminds me of the portraits of Rembrandt. There’s a conversation across time going on here; the artist is thinking about the great masters and how to create a lasting image of a person. These earlier artists continue to inspire those that follow!