Portret van Alvin Langdon Coburn en zijn moeder Fannie 1910

Clarence Hudson White created this photograph of Alvin Langdon Coburn and his mother Fannie. I can imagine him in the dark room thinking about the tonal range and how he would achieve a painterly effect. I wonder what it was like to be in that room with them? Was Fannie chatty, making small talk about the weather, or was she giving Clarence direction, drawing on her creative knowledge? I mean, look at that hat. Fannie has a strong sense of composition and a great eye. And Alvin, peering out from behind the easel, a little shy, as if he is not quite sure if he wants to be immortalized like this, a witness to his mother's artistry. I think it is touching to see the portrait of an artist with his mother. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, and sometimes those conversations take place between family members. Making art is hard, having someone who loves you witness your creative process is a gift.