Untitled (hands filling steam iron in sink) c. 1950

Robert Burian made this photograph – its title is ‘Untitled (hands filling steam iron in sink)’ – and it’s an exercise in contrast, light and dark. The high contrast gives it an otherworldly, or dreamlike quality. There is so much texture here, isn’t there? The hard, smooth surfaces of the porcelain sink, juxtaposed with the soft fleshy tones of the hands. And then there’s the play of light on the chrome of the taps and the iron itself. See how Burian has captured the way the light reflects off the metal, creating these shimmering, almost liquid effects? This isn’t just a picture of a mundane task; it’s a study in form and light. It’s interesting how a simple everyday scene can be transformed into something so striking and evocative. It brings to mind some of the work of László Moholy-Nagy, who was also interested in the interplay of light and shadow. Art's like that; an ongoing conversation, full of echoes and new interpretations.