Curatorial notes
This photograph, of a baby, was made by Samson & Co. In this monochrome print, the tones are soft and blended, almost like a pencil drawing. There's a beautiful chiaroscuro effect, with light gently sculpting the baby's face. The contrast isn’t sharp, it's more about delicate gradations that give a sense of volume and form. Focusing on the baby's hand, we can see a slight blur, which maybe shows the kiddo’s wriggling around at the exact moment the picture was snapped. I think it hints at the challenges of capturing a still image, and the lively spirit contained within the frame. Think about painters like Gerhard Richter, who use blurring to question photography's supposed objectivity. With this image, it is as if the photograph is a way of thinking about the world, rather than documenting it exactly.
