Porträt Des Deutschen Schauspielers Fritz Delius 1920

This photograph of the German actor Fritz Delius was made by Nicola Perscheid sometime in the early 20th century. It’s all about tone, subtle shifts in sepia that create a soft, almost dreamlike quality. Look at how the light catches the edge of his collar, a sharp contrast against the dark suit. It’s a small detail, but it defines the whole image. It feels like Perscheid is using light and shadow to sculpt the face, and the result is an image that’s both intimate and a little mysterious. The background dissolves into a hazy nothingness, pushing Delius forward, making him the sole focus. It reminds me a little of some of the early modernist portraits by someone like Fernand Khnopff, with that same focus on mood and atmosphere. It's a gentle reminder that art is often about what you leave out as much as what you include.