Skepticism
date: label: date made
content: before 1937
name: label: maker
content: Fassbender, Adolf
notes: label: Description
content: From <i>Pictorial Artistry: The Dramatization of the Beautiful in Photography</i>
label: Description
content: "A study, not a portrait of a man. Characteristics brought to the fore, (conveying a mood, a story), as conceived in the mind of the maker of the study. He in turn must ask the sitter to cooperate; there must be clear understanding between both as to the idea or purpose of the picture. Likes, dislikes, or even beauty become secondary considerations, whereas emphasis, expression, and pose, are the main objective.
label: Description
content: In Skepticism, one can see a stern, experienced business man, who is listening distrustfully to the person addressing him.
label: Description
content: Composition:
label: Description
content: Basically pyramidal, there is nevertheless a square in pose, which is strengthened by the shape of the head, deep-set into broad and almost round shoulders. The slight distortion of the face made by the impression of the firmly powerful hand and a strong arm for support, convey a sense of alert repose, a readiness for whatever there may be to come. Strong highlights, lines and modeling in the face give proof of harsh experience, etched by time upon a kind face.
label: Description
content: Technical Problems:
label: Description
content: The difficult part for a retoucher is to refrain from the instinctive desire to beautify, brought about by the constant demand of men and women “portrait sitters” to satisfy their vanity.
label: Description
content: The print had to be kept in a low key demanded by the mood, whereby separation of tone values became a problem, especially when strength was to be the result.
label: Description
content: Data:
label: Description
content: Camera: 5x7 Agfa View
label: Description
content: Lens: Wollensack Velostigmat, 12 inches
label: Description
content: Stop: f.6.3
label: Description
content: Exposure: One second (on stand)
label: Description
content: Film: Defender XF Ortho
label: Description
content: Print: Tuma Gas, direct"
label: Description
content: by Adolf Fassbender, 1937
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
label: See more items in
content: Adolf Fassbender, Pictorial Artistry
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content: Photography
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PG.004116.20
label: catalog number
content: 4116.20
label: accession number
content: 146001
objectType: label: Object Name
content: photograph
label: Object Name
content: photogravure
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: image: 11 1/8 in x 8 5/8 in; 28.2575 cm x 21.9075 cm