Portret van een man met bril 1880 - 1940

This is a portrait of a man with glasses by the photographer Berger. I am drawn to the figure’s gaze; it's intense and enigmatic. It makes you wonder, what was Berger thinking, looking through the camera lens? I always consider how it must feel to be on either side of the lens – the photographer and the photographed. There is an intimate relationship that is created in those moments, a shared vulnerability. I am curious about the scratch on the print which extends from the gentleman's glasses. I wonder what this accidental mark evokes or suggests. What is so beautiful about photography is the way it can freeze a moment in time, offering a glimpse into a world that once was. Photography, like painting, can be an act of bearing witness, capturing the complexities and contradictions of human experience. It encourages us to reflect on our own lives, our relationships, and our place in the world.