Louisiana 1957

Brassai captured this intimate moment of a couple during what looks like a picnic by the river. I’m drawn into the softness of the blanket and the grass they are laying on, the gentle curve of the river, and the figures in the boats out on the water. It feels as though Brassai was able to merge the couple into the scene itself. They look serene, happy, and pensive all at the same time. I wonder what they were thinking in that moment? Maybe they are watching the boats, but maybe they are just wrapped up in each other's company. Their positioning suggests a tenderness and intimacy in what could be an otherwise ordinary day. Maybe, for them, every day feels a bit extraordinary. There is a simplicity in the photograph which reminds me of the everyday scenes captured by artists like Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard. These are pictures of daily life, but are infused with a deep sense of feeling. This reminds us that the quiet moments in life are worthy of contemplation.