The artwork titled “Director of the Hagerstown National Bank” is a photographic piece created by Clarence White in 1909. Clarence White was a prominent figure in the Pictorialism art movement, which aimed to emphasize the beauty and artistic value within a photo. As a genre, this piece falls under photography, specifically within the pictorialist style, which often involved soft focus and manipulation of the photograph to create an image that was more expressive and personal, resembling a painting or etching rather than a crisp, modern photograph.
In this sepia-toned photograph, we see a portrait of an elderly gentleman, presumably the director of the Hagerstown National Bank as the title suggests. The man is gazing slightly to the side, not directly engaging with the viewer. He appears dignified and thoughtful, with a full beard and mustache, wearing a pair of round spectacles that sit low on his nose. He is dressed in formal attire, suggesting his professional role, with a dark jacket and a vest beneath it.
The image is characteristic of pictorialism, with a soft focus that gently blurs the lines of the man’s face and attire, granting the image a dreamlike quality. Light falls across his face, highlighting his features and creating a sense of depth. The background is indistinct, which keeps the focus on the subject of the portrait, accentuating his expression and the quiet, reflective mood of the piece. Clarence White’s expertise is evident in the masterful use of lighting and composition to evoke a sense of character and soul within this photograph.
