Joseph Beuys 1968

Christian Skrein's gelatin silver print, titled "Joseph Beuys," captures the iconic artist in a strikingly direct manner. The photographic process itself, with its alchemical transformation of light-sensitive materials, mirrors Beuys's own interest in transformation and ritual. Consider the stark contrast, the play of light and shadow rendered through careful darkroom practice. Skrein doesn’t rely on elaborate techniques, but the resulting monochrome image possesses a documentary quality, reminiscent of police mugshots or ID photos. Beuys, in his trademark suit and hat, appears as a fixed point, framed against a makeshift backdrop. The very act of photography, with its inherent indexicality, creates a complex interaction, because Beuys always had a deep interest in the language of display. Skrein has not just recorded a likeness, but engaged with the construction of artistic persona. This photograph demands that we consider how both artists use their respective materials and processes to make meaning, challenging our assumptions about art, labor, and identity.