Portret van een Arabische vrouw met vlechten, oorbellen en halsketting 1878 - 18790

This is Nadar’s photograph ‘Portret van een Arabische vrouw met vlechten, oorbellen en halsketting’, taken sometime in the mid to late 19th Century. It’s a small artwork, sepia toned and mounted on card, a product of early photographic processes. I’m drawn to the way the light catches the veil, giving it a sculptural quality that contrasts with the soft, almost blurred edges elsewhere. The veil obscures much of the woman's face, but Nadar captures such a vivid sense of her presence. It’s a powerful portrait, not just of an individual, but of a culture and a moment in time. Nadar was a contemporary of many painters, including Gustave Courbet. Like Courbet, Nadar was interested in realism and the representation of modern life. Although the photographic medium doesn’t involve mark making in the same way as painting, the process of selection, composition, lighting and development are all creative decisions that an artist makes. Just as a painter may use a limited palette to give a sense of harmony to their work, here Nadar uses a restricted tonal range to bring a feeling of intimacy to the image. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation across mediums and time.