Charley's Eye 1940

Nathan Lerner's ‘Charley's Eye’ is a black and white photograph that plays with light and shadow to create a portrait that's both intimate and a bit unnerving. The surface is stark and smooth. The drama really comes from how light is used to sculpt the face, turning ordinary features into a landscape of deep blacks and bright whites. The lens bisects the face to create two very different compositions, one in light and one in shade. The texture of the skin is so immediate. It reminds me a little of some of the dramatic portraits by László Moholy-Nagy, who also played with light and form in really radical ways. Ultimately, this photograph isn't just about capturing a face; it's about exploring how we see, how light shapes our perceptions, and how a simple change in perspective can reveal something new and unexpected.