Fritzi Massary 1916

Nicola Perscheid made this photograph of Fritzi Massary sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s a study in contrasts, this image of the famous operetta singer. I can imagine Perscheid, shrouded in darkness, coaxing light to reveal Massary’s form. The way he captures the delicate lace of her dress, it’s like he's painting with light, trying to catch the way the fabric moves and breathes. What was he thinking as he adjusted the aperture? Was he trying to capture her essence, the feeling she evoked in her audiences? Did he feel like he was chasing something just out of reach? It’s a generous image.