Pianist speelt voor publiek 1853

This print by Paul Gavarni captures a pianist in the throes of performance, observed by an audience. The image is named "Piano I, L'orage" [The Storm]. The open music books are prominent, alluding to knowledge but also perhaps to being overwhelmed, lost in one’s craft. Consider the piano, a symbol of harmony and order, now portrayed as a site of disarray with sheet music haphazardly strewn. The pianist's disheveled appearance and the intensity of his expression suggest a man transported, perhaps lost, in the passion of the moment. This frenzied creative state is echoed in other artistic expressions throughout history, from Van Gogh's swirling skies to the ecstatic poses of Bernini's saints. Note how the upturned faces of the audience suggest not only observation, but also a mirror to the pianist’s internal state. The “storm” is not only in the music, but in the emotional connection between performer and listener, a powerful resonance passed down through time, constantly re-experienced.