Karl Von Bülow 1915

Nicola Perscheid made this portrait of Karl Von Bülow using photography, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Just look at that face! It's full of stories. I’m thinking about Perscheid behind the camera, trying to capture not just an image, but the essence of this very important general. I imagine him carefully adjusting the light, coaxing a certain expression from his sitter. The depth of the blacks and grays create a striking effect. You can feel the weight of Bülow's uniform, the sharpness of his gaze. Look at the way the light catches on his features, bringing out every wrinkle and line. It's so serious and formal. But I wonder, what was he like when the camera wasn't pointed at him? Did he ever crack a smile? Artists are always trying to see each other, to reflect the world around us. It’s a conversation across time and space, where inspiration flows in unexpected ways.