Portret van violist Jan Kubelik Possibly 1923

Here is a portrait of the violinist Jan Kubelik, but who made it and when is a mystery. It's all sepia tones and careful lighting; Kubelik looks like he's stepped out of a dream. He's clutching his violin like it's a part of himself, which, for a musician, I guess it probably is. I wonder what the photographer was thinking as they shot this? Were they fans of Kubelik's music, star-struck even? Or were they just another face in the crowd, clocking in and clocking out? I think the magic of a portrait, whether it's painted or photographed, comes from that strange collaboration. The artist brings their eye, their skill, but the sitter, well, they bring their soul. It’s like they’re having a conversation, not with words, but with light, shadow, and expression. And we, the viewers, get to eavesdrop. It reminds me that art isn't just about the artist, it's about this exchange, this silent dialogue across time.