Portret van Willem Kloos c. 1896 - 1984

Ger Sleurs made this photographic portrait of Willem Kloos, sometime in the twentieth century, probably using a large format camera. I'm always curious about what an artist is thinking when they make a portrait. What was Sleurs thinking when he captured this image of Kloos? The light falls across Kloos’s face, a diagonal slash which divides his gaze. One eye bright, the other cast in shadow. This dramatic contrast makes me wonder whether the artist and sitter knew each other. There’s a hint of familiarity, perhaps even trust. Kloos sits relaxed but looks straight at the camera. He seems aware of being watched. Light and shadow create depth, but they also play tricks on our perception, obscuring details while revealing others. Photography is like painting. It's all about the play of light, tone, and composition. Through this play, Sleurs manages to immortalize the poet. It's like he's saying, "Here, look, here is a man suspended in time.”