Ingrid Bergman, Stromboli, Italy 1949

Gordon Parks made this image of Ingrid Bergman in Stromboli, Italy, and it's a study in contrasts, of light and shadow, of interiority and public image. It's like a chiaroscuro painting, but with a camera. Look at how the light falls across her face, soft and diffused, yet revealing every contour, every worry line. You can almost feel the weight of her thoughts, the texture of her emotions. There’s a cross on the wall behind her, and a heavy ornate headboard, these sit in stark contrast to her slumped, vulnerable pose. That contrast between her gaze and the setting is where the image really sings. It's not just a portrait of a celebrity; it’s a meditation on fame, on vulnerability, on the stories we tell ourselves and the ones others tell about us. Think of the portraits of Marlene Dietrich by Steichen, another study in artifice and emotion, playing with persona. Ultimately, this image isn't about answers, it’s about inviting you to ask your own questions.