Steinberg in Nose Mask, New York 1966

Irving Penn made this photograph, "Steinberg in Nose Mask, New York" using photographic materials. What grabs me about this photo is how Penn plays with concealment and revelation. The mask is so simple, just a paper bag with holes, yet it completely transforms the figure. It’s like a blank canvas, inviting us to project our own interpretations onto it. The texture of the paper is so present, you can almost feel it, while the stark contrast between the mask and the dark suit creates a visual tension. It’s this contrast that really brings the image to life. The single added nose is hilarious and crude, but adds just the right amount of disruption to the scene. I think of artists like Hannah Hoch, who used collage to disrupt conventional images and create new meanings. Penn, like Hoch, challenges our perceptions and reminds us that art is always a process of transformation.