Portret van een lid van de Koninklijke Garde van Griekenland before 1905

This photograph of a member of the Royal Guard of Greece was made by Borri & Fils. Look at the way the artist uses light and shadow here. It's not just about documenting what's there, it’s also about creating a feeling, a mood. I am drawn to the texture that the photographer has captured; from the smoothness of the stone floor to the layered frills and folds of the uniform, there’s a kind of visual feast. The details in the embroidery on the sleeves are incredible, each stitch almost visible, suggesting a careful eye and a dedication to craft. It’s funny how a photograph, something so seemingly straightforward, can be such a deep dive into texture and form. The portrait reminds me a little of August Sander’s portraits of German people. Both photographers found ways of combining the personal with the political. I wonder, what does it mean to be a portrait of a person, but also a portrait of a nation? Art never gives you a straight answer!