Herbert 1912

Morton Schamberg made this portrait, Herbert, which now lives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Isn’t it incredible how a simple photograph can radiate a whole mood? Look at the way the subject clasps his arms across his chest. I wonder what Herbert was thinking when he sat for this portrait. Maybe he was a bit nervous, or maybe he was just trying to look cool and composed. Schamberg was part of the same avant-garde circles as Man Ray, so maybe he was interested in portraiture as a way to show the sitter’s character. I love to think of the two artists sharing ideas, maybe even inspiring each other's creativity. Photography is a form of expression that embraces ambiguity, so perhaps it invites multiple readings and interpretations, leaving room for each viewer to bring their own experiences and emotions to the encounter.