On Portraiture

Since the beginning of photography the portrait has been a constant undertaking of the many artists that have chosen to work in the photographic medium. This rich tradition has provided fascinating insights into our past and at times has served to define those who have shaped our history. I think of Karsh’s portrait of Winston Churchill as a shinning example. One cannot think of Churchill without seeing that image and his searing glare that immediately draws us into his persona. That quality which defines an individual in the form of a portrait is an elusive one. It demands that the artist transcend many dichotomies. It requires a familiarity with ones craft to a level that allows the artist to work with the  cumbersome and often intrusive tools in a way that  blends their physicality into a seamless invisible performance of intention and trust. To accept the constraints of time and find timelessness within those borders. To know the subject intimately without ever having experienced them personally. I’m speaking of that small opening that one tries to find which opens the door to deeper understanding. Leonard Cohen sang it so eloquently …”there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”

Posted by Edward Gajdel September 2008

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