“Eyes are the window to the soul.” “A window of opportunity.” “You are the window through which you must see the world.” From Vermeer’s Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window (1657-1659) to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film Rear Window, the act of looking out from within is steeped in literary and visual culture.
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Dawn Eagleton taps into this long history with Through the Glass – a candid series of portraits. The street photographer is dedicated to recording unguarded moments; her goal is to reveal the “natural expression or state” of each subject. Throughout, Eagleton demonstrates a keen eye for colour and composition.
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Eagleton’s body of work stands out for its use of texture. The results are almost painterly: condensation, rain, smears and reflections coalesce to obscure, abstract and conceal. Readers might be reminded of Saul Leiter (1923-2013), the legendary 20th century artist renowned for his images of New York.
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Through the Glass updates Leiter’s vision for the digital age, often documenting individuals on public transport who are scrolling through their phones – caught in endless news cycles, social media updates and “always-on” communication. Here, Eagleton holds up a mirror to the moments when no one is watching.
All images courtesy Dawn Eagleton, from Through the Glass.