Louisiana 1957

Brassai made this photograph, titled Louisiana, with a camera, of course, but it’s the greyscale that first gets me here. It makes the scene so universal. We all know this place; a riverbank, somewhere quiet, where you can go and just be. There’s a blanket on the ground and the textures! The way the light bounces off the rippling water, it’s almost liquid. And the surface of the blanket, smooth and soft, where it's catching the light. The man and woman are posed together, and this evokes a feeling of warmth and connection, which is kind of lovely. The woman’s head resting on the box of Ritz crackers is a beautiful touch, isn't it? It's soft and tender. It reminds me a bit of some of Édouard Vuillard's interior paintings, how he captured intimate scenes. Both were interested in depicting modern life, whether in a room or by a river. Like a conversation between artists, across time. This photograph invites multiple readings, and that's what makes it so good!