Gordon Webber 1940

This photograph by Nathan Lerner presents us with a study in light and shadow, a portrait with a twist. The greyscale lends itself to a stark contrast, highlighting the planes of the face. It's a tactile image, you can almost feel the grain of the photographic paper. Lerner plays with this texture, adding a small rectangular mirror to the forehead of the subject. It’s a surprising move, interrupting the expected flow of the portrait. I keep thinking about the way that this small detail reframes the entire image, and the possibilities that exist within the artistic process. It's a bit like adding a discordant note in a melody – it changes everything. This piece reminds me of the work of Man Ray, who also experimented with photography in unconventional ways. Both artists invite us to reconsider how we look, and what we see. There is no definitive meaning, just layers of interpretation waiting to be uncovered.