Dimensions height 185 mm, width 137 mm
This studio portrait of Germaine Urtebise, made with gelatin silver print, presents us with an intriguing study in form and texture. The composition is immediately striking; Urtebise's gaze, directed slightly upwards, draws our eye along a diagonal line. The soft focus renders a dreamlike quality, enhanced by the subtle gradations of light and shadow across her face and hair. The pearl necklace introduces a contrasting element, its precise, uniform structure set against the organic fluidity of her features. Consider how this portrait invites dialogue around the structuralist concept of binary oppositions: the soft versus the sharp, the organic versus the geometric. There's a semiotic interplay between the cultural signifiers of beauty and the objective qualities of photographic representation. Notice the edges of the print, slightly frayed. This imperfection adds a layer of authenticity, reminding us of the material reality underlying the image. It resists the notion of a fixed or perfect representation, suggesting instead a continuous process of interpretation.
Comments
These photographs were part of a portfolio Mrs Brusse-Urtebise put together for her career in modelling. She wears a dress with a full skirt, known as a robe de style, which was fashionable in the 1920s. The fulllength photograph resembles Lonthie’s fashion shots. However, it is unclear whether this was one of them or a portrait photograph.
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