Portret van Eugen Wachenheimer, 1906-1931 1906 - 1931

This black and white portrait was taken sometime between 1906 and 1931, but the identity of the photographer remains a mystery. I wonder what was going through the photographer's mind as they framed Eugen Wachenheimer in their viewfinder. Did they want to capture Eugen's inner essence, or simply create a likeness? What does it mean when we don't know the artist? Does this change the work? The photograph itself feels intimate, like a fleeting moment captured in time. The play of light and shadow across Eugen's face adds depth and dimension, while the choice of black and white lends a timeless quality to the image. Eugen's gaze is direct, meeting our own with a hint of melancholy. Thinking about portraiture, it makes me realize we're all trying to capture something, whether it's a likeness, a feeling, or a memory. And in that act of trying, we reveal as much about ourselves as we do about our subject.