Selection for Concert 1952

Robert Doisneau made this photograph, Selection for Concert, probably in the middle of the last century. It’s a black and white image, so tonality and contrast create the mood. There’s a lot of looking going on here. The women are all looking in different directions, and the man behind the desk seems to be sizing them up with an appraising look, his pen held like a conductor’s baton. The woman in the foreground is partially undressed, which changes how we read the situation. Is this a casting session? A rehearsal? A moment of vulnerability laid bare? The photograph is full of rich tonality: the stark white of the walls and the deep blacks of the background cabinets create a striking contrast. The soft gradations of gray in the women's clothing and skin tones add depth and texture, enhancing the sense of realism and adding emotional complexity to the scene. This reminds me of Nan Goldin, who also captured intimate, sometimes unsettling, moments of everyday life. Like her work, this photograph embraces ambiguity, inviting us to question what we are seeing and reflect on the complex dynamics of human interaction.