A Master of allusion

Juergen Teller, a wonderful portraitist, loves his props, his knowing references and his telling allusions.

A photograph of theatre director Simon McBurney resembles a Lucien Freud painting. Standing on a kitchen ledge, McBurney eyes the viewer imperiously, his naked flesh complementing the muted palette of browns, beiges and greens.

Just like a Freud composition, there's a window looking out on to blocks of flats and a large expanse of pale sky, while dried and potted plants decorate the drab interior.

Having established his name in fashion photography, it's as if Teller is humorously saying to us: 'Look, I'm an artist too, now.' And rightly so, for like much of the works in this exhibition, this is a beautiful and arresting picture.

In fact, there's quite a bit of humour in Teller's images, though this never detracts from the beauty of their compositions. For all their apparent casual intimacy, they look as careful and deliberate as paintings.

A side view of William Eggleston has the veteran photographer's wiry frame snaking the curve of a chair, one wrinkled hand clasping a shot glass, the other a carefully poised cigarette. With his skinny ankles coiling round each other, and his mouth a tight moue on his lizardy face, he looks the image of a mean, old Southern dandy.

Alongside the portraits - and, thank God, there's not a picture of Kate Moss in sight, though there is one of latest catwalk princess Lily Cole - are painterly images of weeds against stark concrete walls. These are, quite simply, gorgeous.

Until Jan 14 (closed Dec 19 to Jan 6), Modern Art, 10 Vyner Street E2, Thu to Sun 11am to 6pm, free. Tel: 020 8980 7742. Tube: Bethnal Green