Fashion Show, Hotel Pierre, New York City Possibly 1940 - 1976

Lisette Model shot "Fashion Show, Hotel Pierre, New York City" using gelatin silver print, and the charm is how she gets right in there. There's a beautiful directness to the way Model frames her subjects. It feels less like observation and more like an immediate encounter. I'm drawn to the woman on the left, her face etched with a kind of weary amusement. Her hand is pressed to her cheek, a gesture that speaks volumes, and the stark contrast of the black and white emphasizes every line and wrinkle, giving her face a sculptural quality. The composition is so arresting, and it reminds me a little of Diane Arbus. Both artists were very good at capturing the essence of humanity in their work, with all its flaws, contradictions, and unexpected beauty. It’s as though Model is saying, "Here we are, in all our glorious messiness". I think that's what makes art so engaging, it's the ongoing conversation, not just among artists, but between the artwork and the viewer.