Folk Music Concert with Oscar Brand, New York City c. 1959

This photograph by John Cohen captures folk singer Oscar Brand in concert, sometime in the mid-twentieth century in New York City. Cohen, himself a musician and folklorist, has processed this silver gelatin print to maximize contrast. The light from the stage illuminates Brand, his guitar, and the other performer on stage with him. The black and white medium emphasizes the textures and shadows of the theater's interior, highlighting the rough wood of the floor. Note the position of the audience, with adults seated in the darkness, and two children crawling in the foreground. This speaks to the informality of folk music as a genre, a participatory form of culture, closer to everyday life. Cohen's expertise as both a visual artist and musician, is evident in his documentary approach. Ultimately, it is this combination of technical skill, social observation, and his participation in the folk music community that makes this image so compelling, far more than just a simple snapshot.