Portret van twee onbekende mannen 1897 - 1906

This cabinet card photograph of two unknown men was produced by Anna Sofia Kruse, probably at her studio in Stockholm. Look at the way that Kruse coaxes a range of tones out of sepia; a warm chocolate for the darks that recedes to a creamy, almost golden hue. It’s a tonal dance. The composition is staged, of course. But the slightly awkward pose of the man on the left with his cheek resting on his hand gives him a casual air, as though he has been caught off-guard. The man on the right stares straight out at us, his gaze direct, his face sharp in comparison. It’s these small details that lift the image beyond a simple documentation of the sitters. In some ways, Kruse’s work reminds me of that of Félix Nadar, the great French portrait photographer; a similar sense of character and psychological insight. Photography at its best, like painting, allows for a multitude of interpretations. It’s not just about what is shown, but what is implied.