Famous Gambler, Monte Carlo c. 1934 - 1976

This photograph, Famous Gambler, Monte Carlo, was taken by Lisette Model, and I can imagine her thinking, ‘How do I frame this character? How close can I get without intruding?’ You know, looking at this black and white image, I’m really drawn to the sitter’s back. They seem so consumed with what’s in front of them. All that we see of them is their grand, imposing back, clad in some dark, shapeless material, a cane, and the back of their wide-brimmed hat. I wonder what’s going through this person’s mind. I can almost feel the tension in their shoulders, the focus in their posture. The world is all about chance and speculation. Maybe Model caught them at a moment of high stakes, or maybe it was just an ordinary day at the tables. Maybe, with this photograph, Model is in dialogue with painters like Degas, and Toulouse Lautrec. Either way, it's a glimpse into a world of risk and reward. Artists like Model create such a rich tapestry of human experience, each one building on the insights and innovations of those who came before.