Self-portrait of Dubreuil 1909

This photograph, a self-portrait of Pierre Dubreuil, is composed of gradients of greyscale achieved through light and shadow. I wonder what it was like to be Dubreuil making this image? There he is in his own world, peering down, perhaps at the camera lens. Look at his hand—the tonal variation brings it into hyperfocus, making the hand a metaphor for his artistry. I imagine him adjusting the focus, thinking about depth and clarity. The work evokes a dreamscape of light and tone, and it reminds me of the paintings of Gerhard Richter in its soft-focus blur. All of this makes me think about what a painter can learn from photography. Maybe it’s to trust that blur and spontaneity can yield something poignant and meaningful. Like visual poetry, Dubreuil creates a mood.