"Army Day" Parade, Forbidden City, Beijing, China 1948

Henri Cartier-Bresson took this photograph of the "Army Day" parade in the Forbidden City in Beijing. It's a photograph, so unlike a painting there's no brushstroke, no layering or mixing of hues, yet it's so beautifully composed that it gives the impression of being effortlessly constructed. I wonder what Henri was thinking as he composed the shot. Did he consider the people as layers of paint? The photographer closest to us beams with a great smile while holding his camera - he looks pretty pleased with himself. Behind him, other people are gathered, observing, waiting. Some of them smile; others look more serious and thoughtful, standing in perfect lines. Bresson's genius was in capturing a fleeting moment, an image that contains a multitude of stories. Looking at this photograph, I think how all artists are in dialogue with each other, each one building on the insights and innovations of those who came before. The photograph is an immediate expression that embraces uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning.