Negative Nude c. 1920s - 1930s

This is 'Negative Nude,' a gelatin silver print made by Franz Roh. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what you're seeing here, right? I love the way Roh flips the script by turning the expected tones of a nude study inside out, creating this ghostly, high-contrast image. The way the light seems to radiate from the figure is both beautiful and a little unsettling. Look at the hands, clasped in the center; the stark contrast almost makes them appear disembodied, like floating apparitions. The darks are rich and velvety, while the highlights have this ethereal glow. It makes you think about what’s revealed and what’s concealed, and how a simple reversal can change our whole perception. It reminds me a bit of Man Ray’s surrealist photos, that same play with light and form to create something totally unexpected. Art's like a conversation, always building on what came before, questioning what we think we know.