PHIL MAXWELL

Sometimes images remain in the consciousness of the photographer for decades after the short moment in time they were taken. The ‘man selling a second hand harmonium in Cheshire Street’ taken in 1983 is one of those images. The photograph could have been taken in the 1950s. I often wonder if he ever managed to sell the harmonium.

Man selling a second hand harmonium in Cheshire Street. East London 1983.

The reworked image below used a page from a catalogue for my exhibition ‘As It Is’.

The same image over painted with acrylic, pastel & pencil.

The collaged image below repeats the harmonium keyboard (in negative) and triples the portrait of the harmonium seller.

The same image with collage.

Last month I was struck by a self portrait by Rembrant. It reminded me of of the harmonium player photographed over 350 years later. I decided to make a collage juxtaposing the two images.

Rembrant and the Cheshire Street harmonium player. Mixed media on canvas 80 x 40cm.

Rembrant and the Cheshire Street harmonium player (detail).

Rembrant and the Cheshire Street harmonium player (detail).

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