Portret van koning Eduard VII van het Verenigd Koninkrijk 1905 - 1906

This photograph of King Edward the VII, sitting rather formally, was made by an anonymous artist, and well, you know, there's a real freedom in that anonymity. I find myself focusing on the way the light catches his beard. There's a beautiful play of textures, from the smooth surface of the photograph to the almost palpable bristliness of his facial hair. It is monochrome, but that helps to accentuate the texture in his beard, and the embroidery and lace on his costume. It's like the artist is trying to capture not just his likeness, but something of his essence, and there's a vulnerability to that endeavor. It makes me think of other artists who worked in portraiture, like Holbein, who used a similar level of detail to portray his subjects, but without the safety net of photography. Ultimately, this photograph reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing and interpreting the world that is constantly evolving and open to new possibilities.