Cello Study, 1926
Gelatin silver print, printed no later than 1971
9 ¾ × 2 inches on 10 x 8 inch sheet
Signed, titled, and dated in pencil on verso
August 26, 2024
This elegant photograph is a classic example of the spirit of artistic collaboration that André Kertész embraced while immersed in the bohemian community of Montparnasse. Kertész emigrated to Paris in 1925 and some of the first connections he forged while living there were with fellow expats from his native Hungary. This photograph was the result of an invitation from the Hungarian cellist Feri Roth, who was the leader of a string quartet that was performing works by modern composers such as Ravel and Debussy. Roth would have been aware that, far from taking typical publicity photos, Kertesz would approach the shoot as a creative conversation in its own right.
The radical cropping of this image was typical of Kertesz’s working methods at the time. Fascinated with the cubists, Kertész was exploring ways to reduce his subjects to their essence, through a process of abstraction. The tensile geometry of this composition is entirely of a piece with the essential components of the cello: the strings stretched taut over the bridge, creating a vertical thrust that is only interrupted by Roth's bow pulling across them, all of which is emphasized by Kertész's tight crop.
Kertész and Roth were among the Jewish artists who sought refuge in the United States in the 1930s, where they both enjoyed long and distinguished careers. This delightful print exemplifies the spirit of Paris between the wars, a period of artistic cross-pollination that was instrumental in shaping Kertesz's creative identity. Kertész himself said this was one of his favorite images from that time in his life.
