Jean Toomer 1925

Here's a photograph of Jean Toomer, captured by Alfred Stieglitz. Think of Stieglitz in the darkroom, coaxing this image out of the shadows, bit by bit. He’s playing with light and tone, making Toomer emerge from the cloudy ether like some kind of seer. The soft focus around the edges makes it look like he’s dissolving into the atmosphere, but then Toomer’s eyes, they’re so direct, almost challenging you. It's interesting, this push and pull between clarity and blurriness; maybe it's about seeing and not seeing, knowing and not knowing. Stieglitz seems to be saying something about identity and how it’s never fixed, always in flux. Like a painting, it invites us to consider what’s visible and what remains hidden beneath the surface. And ultimately, isn’t that the essence of portraiture? A collaboration, a silent conversation between artist and sitter, each leaving their mark.