Catherine Moton Patterson Possibly 1936 - 1981

Prentice H. Polk made this photograph of Catherine Moton Patterson with a camera, and it's a delicate piece of work. I really feel for Polk here, trying to capture the essence of Patterson in a single frame. Was he thinking about light, texture, or the sheer elegance of the moment? I can imagine him carefully adjusting the focus, trying to capture the way the light catches on the strings of the harp, or the soft fabric of her dress. There's a real exchange here, a conversation. The black and white image feels timeless, like a song that never gets old, and it makes me think about all the other artists, photographers, musicians, maybe, who have tried to capture the beauty of a moment.