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

This tiny card shows a member of the Greek Royal Guard. It was produced by Borri & Fils at some point in the late 19th or early 20th century when photography was starting to change the way painting was understood. I imagine the photographer setting up their equipment, carefully arranging the composition, and directing the subject to stand still and pose. What was going through their minds? Perhaps they were thinking about how to capture the essence of Greek identity and pride. They must have noticed how the elaborate traditional uniform contrasts with the modern technology of the rifle. Photography freed painting from needing to offer realistic representation. So, painters started to engage more deeply with the material aspects of their medium. The move from representation toward abstraction marks a profound shift in visual culture. Photography pushed us toward the world of, say, Joan Mitchell! Painters and photographers are always in conversation, exchanging ideas across time. Embracing ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations and meanings.