Emotional

The effect of this image makes me feel quite intimidated and devious 😈 . Its very rough and serious as there’s no natural objects in the scene, except for the subject. Also seen as gloomy, dark, uncomfortable, cold and more. He’s almost blocking the viewer away from the picture.

Visual

Cold blue colours, lots of industrial objects in background (a train factory). The subject sits in the bottom centre of the image sitting almost like he has authority over the factory. He’s giving an intimidating look, especially with the harsh shadows on his wrinkly face.

Technical

symmetry and balance. The 2 pillars add to this symmetry, and leads the eyes towards the subject. harsh lighting – not very conventional giving similar lighting to churches or cathedrals (very intimidating). perspective goes to end of factory, with the focus on the subject.

Conceptual

The idea behind the image was to show his views on people who helped the Nazis win the war. He presented this image in a dark and sinister way, perfectly portraying the man in the image.

Contextual

Alfred Krupp was a German industrialist who ran the Krupp empire, a major arms manufacturer during World War II. Convicted as a war criminal for his company’s use of slave labor, he was later pardoned. Despite his pardon, Krupp remained a controversial figure, and his reputation as a ruthless businessman and war profiteer followed him.

Newman, a renowned portrait photographer, initially refused to photograph Krupp due to his own Jewish heritage and Krupp’s dark past. However, he later changed his mind, deciding to use the portrait as a way to express his personal feelings toward Krupp. he later said after taking the photo that ‘shivers when down my spine’