Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a photographic photography by Balthasar Schmitt. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This work is a black-and-white photograph mounted on a green card, depicting two sculpted figures.
About this work
Overview
This work is a black-and-white photograph mounted on a green card, depicting two sculpted figures.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph shows a kneeling figure with their head resting on their hand, comforted by a standing figure with an arm around their shoulders. The smooth, rounded forms and soft drapery folds suggest a classical or traditional sculptural style.
Technique & Style
The use of chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, creates a three-dimensional effect, emphasizing the sculptural quality of the figures. The photograph's black-and-white tone further enhances the illusion of stone or marble.
History & Provenance
The photograph was part of a collection bequeathed by William Kineton Parkes in 1938. Parkes had gathered responses from sculptors in the 1920s through questionnaires, now held in the Archive of Art and Design.
Artist & collection
Artist
Balthasar Schmitt carried a camera like a notebook, snapping pictures of everyday corners that most people ignore—back doors of cafes, laundry strung across alleys, shadows stretching at dusk.
