Self-Portrait with Sunglasses, Dessau 1928

Gertrud Arndt made this self-portrait in Dessau with a camera. The sepia tones give it a dreamy, vintage feel, like a memory half-forgotten. Arndt’s choice of black and white focuses our attention on the forms and the composition, it makes the process feel present. Looking at this print, I’m drawn to the contrast between the sharp details of her face and the soft blur of the background. The sunglasses create these dark, mysterious circles over her eyes, obscuring her gaze. But then there’s that wide-open laugh, so full of life, so immediate. It feels like she's inviting us to share in a private joke. The scarf tied around her head adds another layer of texture. Each element seems carefully considered, yet the overall effect is spontaneous and free. Arndt was part of the Bauhaus, which embraced experimentation and celebrated the intersection of art, craft, and technology. You could compare her experimentation to that of László Moholy-Nagy, who pushed the boundaries of photography in his photograms and experimental portraits. Art is about ongoing conversations; these images leave so much open to interpretation.