Brown's Face 1939

Nathan Lerner’s black and white print, "Brown's Face," warps the subject's features, pushing and pulling the face into strange contortions. I try to imagine what Lerner was thinking when he took this photograph. The high contrast and close-up perspective create an unsettling and intimate encounter. It reminds me a little of some of Francis Bacon's distorted portraits, or maybe even some of Picasso's more angular faces – there’s a similar sense of emotional intensity. The eyes dart to the right, and the open mouth makes me wonder what Brown is about to say, or what he is screaming. The light bounces off the cheeks and teeth. It’s interesting how different effects can be achieved with a range of greys. I love how the highlights capture the tension and drama of the expression. This photo messes with your mind and feelings, which is the point, right? All artists are magpies. They’re constantly borrowing, stealing, and riffing off of each other’s ideas.