Untitled (portrait of boy made for doctor) c. 1950

This photograph, 'Untitled (portrait of boy made for doctor)' by Robert Burian, shows us the delicate balance between seeing and feeling. The inverted tones create a ghostly effect, a stark contrast that highlights the vulnerability in the boy's expression. Look closely at the eyes. They're almost too bright, drawing you into a gaze that's both innocent and unnerving. It reminds me of the way Alice Neel would capture the raw essence of her sitters, laying bare their emotional landscape with unflinching honesty. The texture of the film itself adds another layer, like the graininess of memory, just like a drawing or a painting. It speaks to the process, the alchemy of capturing a moment in time. It’s like the image is still developing, still coming into being. Ultimately, this image, in its stark beauty, invites us to consider how we see and how we feel, and the power of art to make this happen.