Charros 1939

David Seymour made this gelatin silver print, titled ‘Charros’ at an unknown date. It captures a particular moment in time. It’s black and white, so we’re already dealing with a world transformed, distilled. I imagine Seymour, probably crouched, framing the shot, deciding what to include and exclude. He’s made choices about focus and composition. I wonder if the woman tying the charro’s tie was aware of being photographed? He’s managed to catch this moment of pre-celebration in the air. The image feels spontaneous, intimate even. I see the details, like the horseshoe on the charro’s jacket, the woman’s multiple pearl necklaces, and the gun in its holster, and I feel the texture of the clothing. It makes me think about painting. How it's not just about the visual, but about touch, about the body's engagement with the world.