The Boxer Max Schmeling at a Training Camp near New York c. 1932 - 1950

Erich Salomon took this photo of the boxer Max Schmeling, presumably with a portable camera, at a training camp near New York. It’s all about the grays here, a study in monochrome. There’s a softness to the light and a wonderful stillness to the scene, Schmeling reclined on a bed reading. His striped trousers and vest create a kind of gentle pattern. The eye is drawn to the contrast between the crisp white pages of the book and the dark fabric of his vest, a focal point that centers the image. The texture of the bedsheets and the shadows cast by the window frame add depth. You can almost feel the quiet intensity of the moment, the calm before the storm of a boxing match. This work reminds me a little of Cartier-Bresson and his ability to capture a decisive moment, a fleeting glimpse of life as it unfolds. With this image, Salomon gives us an intimate portrait, revealing a more contemplative side of a man known for his physical strength. Art always embraces ambiguity, doesn't it?