Portret van een militair in uniform 1941 - 1945

This tiny photograph, "Portret van een militair in uniform," which roughly translates as, "Portrait of a military man in uniform," is found at the Rijksmuseum. It’s not known when it was made, or by whom. What strikes me most is the way the anonymous photographer makes use of light and shadow. It’s a monochrome world, somewhere between snow and sand, a narrow tonal range. This makes me think about the limitations of photography and the choices they force on the artist, much like the boundaries of a canvas do for a painter. Look at the way the light catches the man's face and uniform, creating subtle variations in tone. The building behind him recedes from our focus. These choices tell us where to look. It reminds me of the quiet, contemplative portraits by artists like Luc Tuymans, who also use a limited palette to create a sense of distance and introspection. Ultimately, like all good art, this photograph is not just about what we see, but how we see it.