Morton Schamberg 1910 - 1914

This photograph of Morton Schamberg, was probably shot in New York, maybe in the 1910's. It's hard to tell exactly what’s going on. Maybe he’s thinking, maybe he’s tired. But that’s photography, isn’t it? Always catching you halfway there. The cool thing about the photo is the way Schamberg’s body is positioned. He's sitting on this slightly rickety chair, but turned toward us, like he’s presenting himself. And the objects displayed behind him create a beautiful, cluttered backdrop that contrasts the straight lines of the furniture. A sense of controlled chaos that is mirrored in his demeanor. His clothing is rumpled and soft, and I wonder if he’s wearing a favorite, well-worn suit. His shoes tell a story of someone on the go; he has places to be. I think of the French painter, Edouard Vuillard, who was so good at capturing the quiet intimacy of interior spaces, the way objects and people kind of merge together. It's like a dance between what’s seen and what’s felt. Art is like that; it’s never just one thing.