Ernst Haeckel 1910

This photograph of Ernst Haeckel was taken by Nicola Perscheid, a German photographer known for his portraits. It's all about how Perscheid plays with light and shadow, right? The way he makes Haeckel's beard look almost like a cloud – soft, but with these dark, dramatic undertones. Looking closely, you can see how he uses light to carve out the shapes in Haeckel's face. The shadows aren't just dark spots; they're what give the face its depth and character. And that hat! It's like a dark halo, focusing our attention on the face. Think of it as a drawing. He’s building the image layer by layer. It's like he is thinking through the process of image making. It reminds me of some of the older portrait painters, like Rembrandt, who weren't just trying to capture a likeness. They were trying to get at something deeper about the person. This isn't just a picture; it's a conversation. It leaves space for us to wonder and think.