Portret van een vrouw in klederdracht van Corfu before 1905

Borri & Fils created this photographic portrait of a woman in traditional Corfiot dress sometime in the late 19th century, with a process that’s less about capturing a moment and more about constructing an image. The tonal range is compressed, giving a beautiful softness, like a pencil drawing. Look at the way her skirt falls, the fabric bunching and gathering; you can almost feel the weight and texture of the material. It's a record of light interacting with form, and how the camera's eye transforms it. I'm drawn to the way she holds one hand on her hip, the other resting gently on a metallic object at her waist. It creates an elegant compositional balance, drawing your eye across the frame. I’m reminded of the portraits of August Sander, where the subjects’ poses and attire speaks volumes about their place and role in society. Both artists use the visual language of photography to explore the complexities of identity and representation. The way artists borrow and build on one another's ideas across time, its one big conversation.