Edward Kilenyi 1933 - 1936

This is a photo of Edi Kilenyi, born May 7, 1911, in Philadelphia. I can only imagine the artist Manó Pál Vajda positioning his subject and adjusting the lighting to capture Kilenyi's youthful face. Black and white photography is so different from working with color, isn’t it? It's about capturing tonal ranges, and shadow details, almost like drawing with light itself. In the final print, the details are clear and the tones are soft. The crispness of the suit juxtaposes against the blur of the background and makes me wonder if the artist intended to bring a sense of immediacy, like we’ve just caught Kilenyi in a candid moment. Vajda, like all photographers, was in dialogue with painters, sculptors, and filmmakers. Artists are always finding new ways of seeing and showing. Each medium—photography, painting, or even performance—is a unique way of understanding what it means to be human.