Portret van de Duitse kroonprins 1938 - 1948

This is a photograph of the German Crown Prince, produced by Atelier Merkelbach, and it's all about subtle gradations. The palette is restrained, almost entirely greyscale. This isn’t just a picture, it's a study in light and shadow. Look closely, and you can see how the tones shift almost imperceptibly, creating form and depth. The subtle variations around the eyes, for example, are telling, giving the face a depth of character and revealing a weight behind them. The surface has a gentle texture, a kind of soft focus that mutes detail while adding a sense of atmosphere. It reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter’s paintings, which he made from photographs. Both artists play with focus and clarity, blurring the line between representation and abstraction. It's this kind of ambiguity that keeps us looking.