Marc Chagall, New York 1947

This is Irving Penn’s portrait of Marc Chagall in New York. Penn's process feels considered, deliberate – almost sculptural, really. Look at the way Chagall reclines, his hand gently resting on his chest, a gesture both vulnerable and self-assured. The monochrome palette adds a timeless quality, stripping away distractions to focus on form and texture. Notice the subtle gradations of light across the backdrop, the way it catches the fabric of his suit, the lines on his face. Penn coaxes out a tactile experience from the surface of the photograph. It’s not just an image; it’s an encounter. This portrait reminds me a little of some of August Sander’s portraits of artists and writers, of people at work. Both artists share a similar intensity and directness. The conversation between these images, across time and different sensibilities, is really fascinating. It reminds us that art isn't about fixed meanings but about the endless possibilities of seeing and feeling.