Alterity 2002

In this monochromatic photograph titled, Alterity, Geta Bratescu presents a somber self-portrait. I’m wondering about Bratescu when she was making this. You know, the act of taking a photo—it's like a dance with light, shadow, and the self. What was she thinking as she framed herself in the viewfinder? There's a certain starkness that feels so intentional; she's not shying away from the camera, but confronting it, meeting our gaze. This photograph reminds me of other artists I admire such as Francesca Woodman, who also bravely explored identity and self-representation through photography. There is also Lee Miller, who similarly captured the depths of human experience through her poignant and unsettling images. They all have a voice in this ongoing, visual conversation. Ultimately, it’s up to us to make meaning.