Masked and Anonymous
by Luc Sante
May 30, 2019
3 minutes
In his biweekly column, Pinakothek, Luc Sante excavates and examines miscellaneous visual strata of the past.
The press photographer’s task is to obtain a likeness of the person who is at the center of the news. This proves difficult when the subject, who is either accused of crimes or tied, however flimsily, to someone who is, wants to avoid being photographed at all costs. Hounded at every step, unable to escape, even in shackles, the subject resorts to makeshift concealments—hat, sleeve, lapel, handkerchief, newspaper—in order to prevent facial capture. The photographer can only pursue, shadow, perhaps verbally
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