Brigitta c. 1906

Frank Eugene made this photograph, Brigitta, using a platinum print, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's a process that’s all about subtlety, where the artist coaxes out tones rather than dictating them. I'm drawn to the way the fabric of the girl's dress almost glows, contrasting with the shadowy background. It’s not just about light and dark, but the texture, the way the light seems to cling to the folds. Look closer at that little picture on the wall behind her. It's like a painting within a photograph, or a half remembered dream. It brings to mind the quiet domestic scenes of someone like Vuillard, where everything seems a little bit soft and out of focus, inviting you to fill in the gaps. Ultimately, a piece like this reminds us that art is never finished, it’s always in process.