Studioportret van een man c. 1890 - 1920

This photograph, Studioportret van een man, was created by Cornelis Leenheer Sr. What strikes me is the tone of the photo: it’s almost entirely monochromatic, a sort of grayscale gradient where it's difficult to separate the sitter from the background. The man's suit seems to absorb all of the light, making him appear like a shadow of himself. And then there's the detail: Look at the way the artist captures the texture of the man's suit, so fine and crisp. You can almost feel the weave of the fabric, the way it would feel to the touch. And what about the way the light catches the edge of his cheekbone, highlighting the contours of his face? These details pull you in, making you feel like you're really there, in the room with him. Photography reminds me of painting, and how some abstract painters, like Gerhard Richter, used photography as source material for their paintings; both forms are an ongoing conversation between reality and representation. At the end of the day, art is about opening up new ways of seeing, thinking, and feeling.