AA-2026-2A7ED5
On the image
The subject's eyes reflect a peculiar hexagonal light, suggesting an interaction with technology that was either cutting-edge or entirely accidental. In the 1970s, many sought to capture the inner being through photography, often settling for whatever the camera lens decided to emphasize, sometimes with unforeseen geometric results.
This particular soft focus technique, blurring the face into an almost abstract form, was considered deeply profound by some. It conveyed a sense of mystery and introspection, or perhaps simply that the photographer couldn't quite get the focus right but declared it art anyway.
One wonders if the person being photographed understood they would be immortalized with geometric pupils, or if they just stood there, trusting the person with the camera to make them look interesting. The hexagonal catchlights remain, a permanent reminder of a momentary reflection.
The historian's note
This is a photographic portrait from the 1970s, characterized by its soft-focus effect and prominent hexagonal bokeh in the subject's eyes. Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image, and its shape is determined by the camera lens's aperture blades. The hexagonal shape visible here indicates a lens with a multi-bladed aperture, a common design.
During the 1970s, photographic experimentation was prevalent, and artists often explored techniques such as soft focus to evoke mood, blur imperfections, or create a dreamlike quality in portraits. This image exemplifies both a specific optical characteristic of photographic lenses and a stylistic choice of the period.
The photograph captures a close-up of a human face, with the focus intentionally or unintentionally rendered soft, drawing attention to the distinct light reflections in the eyes.
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Visually related — by likeness
Hexagonal Gaze Portrait, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-2A7ED5. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/hexagonal-gaze-portrait-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20262A7ED5,
title = {Hexagonal Gaze Portrait, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-2A7ED5},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/hexagonal-gaze-portrait-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Hexagonal Gaze Portrait, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-2A7ED5 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/hexagonal-gaze-portrait-1970s ER -
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