Portret van Phil Kennamer 1935

This photograph, “Portret van Phil Kennamer,” was made by an anonymous artist, and the lack of information about its creation feels apt when considering its grey, neutral tones. The photographic surface has a tactile, almost velvety quality, which lends depth to the gradations between light and shadow. Look closely at the soft blur of the cigarette smoke near his hand. There’s something dreamlike about its ephemeral presence, like a fleeting thought. The suit, tie and cigarette situate the man in the context of his time, but the way he holds himself, with his body angled away from the viewer, speaks to a timeless quality of introspection. The soft lighting and limited tonal range remind me of the work of Gerhard Richter, particularly his portraits based on found photographs. Like Richter, this piece engages with the slippery nature of representation and the way images mediate our understanding of the world. Both artists embrace ambiguity, inviting us to question the stories we tell ourselves about the past and the present.