Charley's Eye 1940

Nathan Lerner made "Charley's Eye" using photography, a medium that's all about light and shadow. Looking at this black and white print, I imagine him in the darkroom, coaxing these tones to life. What strikes me is the tension between what's revealed and what's obscured. The magnifying glass dominates the composition, distorting and magnifying while also casting deep shadows across the face. I wonder what Lerner was thinking about as he made this? Was he interested in playing with perspective, or perhaps commenting on the act of seeing itself? The composition is bold and confrontational. It reminds me a little of Man Ray's surrealist portraits. It's almost as though Lerner invites us to examine the subject under a microscope, yet simultaneously keeps us at a distance. It highlights how artists are always in conversation with each other, riffing off ideas and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.