The cellist Pablo Casals in concert in Munich c. 1929 - 1950

Erich Salomon captured this image of Pablo Casals in concert in Munich using photography, a medium that's all about capturing a specific moment in time. The photograph feels immediate and raw, like a sketch in charcoal. It's like Salomon wasn't trying to create a perfect, polished image, but was more interested in the act of capturing a fleeting moment. The texture of the photograph is also interesting, it's not smooth and glossy like a lot of modern photos. You can see the graininess of the film, which gives the image a tactile quality. Look at the way Casals has his eyes closed, tilting his head back. He looks totally lost in the music, doesn't he? I'm reminded of Alfred Stieglitz, both Salomon and Stieglitz used photography to capture a sense of realism. Ultimately, this photograph is an ongoing conversation about how we see and remember.