Tonny van Renterghem als cornet 1e regiment huzaren 1938 - 1939

This photograph, made by an anonymous artist, depicts Tonny van Renterghem as cornet 1e regiment huzaren. It's all about how the artist worked with light and shadow, almost sculpting the image out of grey tones, which for me speaks to the idea of art-making as a kind of process, a journey. The material feel of the photograph is striking. The surface is smooth, but you can sense the grain, the texture that holds the image together. Look at the way the light catches the buttons on the uniform, making them pop out against the darker fabric, that one little highlight really helps define the figure. I see a connection with the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, who also explored similar themes of documentation and objectivity, but even here you find beauty. Ultimately, the power of art lies in its capacity to leave space for uncertainty and multiple interpretations.