Carnival in the Village 1946 - 1949

Paula Horn Kotis made this photograph at an unknown date, its title is ‘Carnival in the Village’. The image is like a memory, dipped in sepia tones, capturing a fleeting moment. Kotis frames a scene within a scene, pulling us into the intimate space of the carnival worker. The lights blurred in motion, they are like a painterly brushstroke, adding depth to the space. Look at the way Kotis plays with light, the reflections bouncing off the metallic surfaces. It's not just about what’s there, but how it feels to be there. The high contrast emphasizes the mood, like a scene from a film noir. The carnival worker looks out with a gaze that could be interpreted as boredom, world-weariness, or maybe just a little bit of both. Kotis's work makes me think of Helen Levitt’s street photography, which also captures everyday life with such sharp observation. Kotis's Carnival in the Village is like a memory, a fragment of time suspended in shades of brown.