Untitled c. 1949

This photograph, by Arthur Ellis, captures a moment of pure childhood wonder. I can almost feel the artist holding his breath, trying to capture the fleeting magic of that giant soap bubble. The grayscale palette evokes a sense of nostalgia, like sifting through old family photos, yet Ellis’ composition is very dynamic. I see three boys, each lost in their own world. They seem to be competing to blow the largest bubble. They fill their cheeks with air. Their faces are so serious. I wonder how many attempts it took to create that perfect sphere, and how quickly it popped afterward? It's a snapshot of shared experience, but also quiet, individual dreams. I can only imagine that Ellis was interested in a similar kind of exploration when photographing it, trying to balance spontaneity with a sense of timelessness.