Untitled 1942

This is an undated photograph by David Hare. Imagine the darkroom, the red light, the smell of the chemicals, David immersed in the image slowly developing in the tray. There is so much that he couldn’t know about how we would see his work. The tonal range feels very sophisticated, and is the first thing I notice; It feels both intimate and alienating. I’m interested in Hare’s sensitivity and use of light in his work. You can feel the model is completely relaxed and unaware. You wonder what she might have been thinking when she made it. It makes me think about a whole tradition of art. This is not just a portrait, but an exploration of a kind of vulnerability, or the moment of rest, of letting go. Artists are always referencing and responding to what came before, and it’s a wonderful thing to behold. Seeing this image has sparked new ideas, and that’s the best thing art can do.