Man in een schildersatelier c. 1900 - 1910

This is a photo of a man in a painting studio, by G. Hidderley, but when it was made, we don’t know. What strikes me first is how the unfinished painting behind the seated figure seems to mimic him. The textures are rich in this black and white print, from the heavy looking ceramic pots on the floor, to the grain of the wooden floorboards, and the soft sketch of the portrait in progress. Look closely at the man's face, and the way he’s captured in the midst of an idea. There's a hint of playfulness. The artist is caught between his world and the one he’s creating, the model in the background gazing upwards almost as if interrupted by the presence of the artist. The photo reminds me of later portraits of artists in their studios, like those by Hans Namuth of Jackson Pollock, capturing a moment in time that is full of creative potential. We can appreciate art as an ongoing conversation.