Untitled 1942

This photograph was made by David Hare, but we don't know when. What strikes me is the tonal range, how dark and light can play against each other and still create a coherent image. The model is draped against the furniture in a way that creates a kind of dialogue between the body and the interior. The black and white image reduces the world to its fundamentals, an approach that allows the artist to focus on composition, texture, and form. In particular, it is the way the light traces the curves of the model’s body and the sumptuous folds of the velvety fabric that captures my attention. The stark contrast between light and shadow suggests the drama of a theatrical stage set; this interplay is like a visual dance, full of movement and vitality. Hare was a contemporary of artists like Brassai and Man Ray. I wonder whether he knew their work. I can imagine them all debating what photography can be.