Arthur B. Carles 1923

Alfred Stieglitz captured this portrait of Arthur B. Carles in a photograph. Carles's beard, thick and dark, dominates the composition. It speaks of wisdom and a certain gravitas, resonating with ancient portrayals of philosophers and prophets. Consider the beards of ancient Greek philosophers or the depictions of Old Testament figures; the beard symbolizes knowledge and experience. This image of Carles echoes these historical symbols, yet there's a distinct modern twist. It's a deliberate projection of the artist as a figure of authority, a visual claim to artistic insight. This connects to a long line of artists self-fashioning their image. Yet, the psychological weight of the beard also hints at something deeper, a subconscious desire to connect with ancestral wisdom and timeless truths, reflecting a cyclical return to symbols of authority and knowledge.