Portret van Gerard Reve 1968

Here's a portrait of Gerard Reve by Anefo, and it’s all about the contrasts, isn’t it? The dark suit against the lighter background, the sharp lines of his face softened by the cloth in his hands. I can almost feel Anefo circling, trying to catch Reve off guard, or maybe trying to meet his eye. There is something about the way the light hits Reve's face that makes me feel as though there is a back and forth between sitter and photographer; something in his eyes and expression makes me think that he knew he was a somebody, and was being seen as a somebody. It feels full of expectation and tension, and I imagine Anefo, like all of us artists, trying to find something new. It’s like they’re having a conversation through the lens, a kind of dance with light and shadow. Just like painters riff off each other's moves across time, each inspiring the next. What do you think they might be saying?