Portret van George Doty 1924

This photograph of George Doty, made by an anonymous artist at an unknown date, feels like a study in greys, doesn’t it? Not quite monochrome, but a very limited palette, as if the tones are fighting for space within the image. There's something about the texture here, that granular, almost palpable feel of the film. The light catches the lines on his face and the weave of his coat, making you want to touch the image. His clasped hands are particularly resonant, a knot of lived experience. The artist hasn't tried to hide the materiality of the photo, instead embracing its inherent qualities. It’s honest in its presentation, not trying to be anything it isn't. It makes me think of Eugène Atget, that chronicler of old Paris, finding beauty in the everyday. Just like Atget, this image seems to be saying that art isn't always about perfection, but about capturing a moment, an essence, a life.