Hermann Von Hatzfeldt 1910

Nicola Perscheid made this photograph of Hermann Von Hatzfeldt sometime around the turn of the century. Look how he plays with light, allowing it to define and soften the contours of his subject's face, it almost feels like a painting. The material presence of the photograph, its smooth surface and velvety blacks, adds a tactile dimension to the image. If you look closely, you can see the subtle gradations of tone that Perscheid coaxes from the printing process, a testament to his skill. The highlights on Hatzfeldt's forehead and cheekbones, the way his moustache hairs catch the light, all work together to create a portrait that feels both familiar and slightly mysterious. The work of someone like Edward Steichen comes to mind, who also explored the boundaries between photography and painting around the same time. Both photographers were exploring new ways of seeing, playing with light and shadow to create images that are as much about feeling as they are about representation.