Propagandaleider Ernst Voorhoeve 1941 - 1942

This is a photograph, of course, not a painting, but it still demonstrates the power of an image to communicate a particular point of view. It captures a man addressing a crowd in what must have been a very fraught period. The tones are mostly dark, heightening the drama. And the surface of the photograph itself looks a little rough, which only adds to the sense of reality. I'm struck by the speaker's raised hand. It’s a powerful gesture, suggesting direction, control, even dominance. Photography, like painting, is always a process of selection, and this photograph, with its high contrast and grainy texture, has a real emotional charge. I am reminded of some of the graphic black and white photography of Robert Frank, and his ability to capture something essential about the mood of a place and time. In the end, art making is an act of interpretation, and it’s up to us to bring our own perspectives to bear.