Erich Hartmann "It was October 1979 and we were together in France, when Erich saw two weeks ahead without assignments. We bought train passes, each packed a small suitcase, and set forth eastward from Paris with
(...) the vague intention to travel clockwise around the periphery of France without timetables or hotel reservations. The magic train pass made it possible to choose destinations at will.
Although Erich was without his customary photographic gear, he did carry a new, pocket-sized ‘point and shoot’ camera, as well as a good supply of film. From those two weeks of travel eventually came Erich’s ‘Train Journey’ series and an accompanying exhibit, which travelled around the U.S. and Europe. These images showcase landscapes and landmarks, the quick passage of never-to-be-seen-again vistas of forests and rivers, busy station platforms, and close-ups of the ever-changing cast of characters inside the train as they read, ate, chatted, and slept.
But this image is especially ‘close.’ It was early morning, and I had crept out of bed to peek through the hotel room’s curtains and assess the weather in Pau just north of the Pyrenees.”
— Ruth Bains Hartmann, widow of Erich Hartmann © Erich Hartmann | Magnum Photos
