In the thick of his career as a concert pianist based in New York, Dimitri Tiomkin sat in the studio of photographer Nickolas Muray in the Park Central Hotel at 56th Street and 7th Avenue, a stone’s throw from Central Park. The resulting Nickolas Muray portrait (shown below), would become the latest publicity item available to promote Tiomkin’s concert hall appearances and emerging career as a composer.
Dimitri Tiomkin portrait by Nickolas Muray, 1928
In this head and shoulders portrait, Tiomkin’s slightly-tilted head is parallel to the camera, his upper body in a three-quarter turn. The sharp texture of Tiomkin’s jacket in the foreground contrasts with the remainder which eventually blurs into the neutral background. Lit, fairly-evenly, from the subject’s left side, the narrow focal plane showcases the unique facial geometry.
Dimitri Tiomkin publicity portrait by Leon Elzin, 1925
Less than three years had passed since Tiomkin sat in the studio of Leon Elzin. In this close to half-length portrait (shown at left), Tiomkin’s left shoulder is towards the camera and the light source emanates from his right. Sporting a tuxedo with bow tie and a slight amiable grin, he looks the part of a musician. In Muray’s portrait, in business wear and with serious demeanor, Tiomkin could be mistaken for a Wall Street broker or businessman.
Photographers seem to lead interesting lives and Muray was no exception. Among his estimated 10,000 photographic subjects were New York celebrities and Hollywood movie stars. Excelling at color, creating enduring portraits of Mexican artist Frido Kahlo came with benefits. Born in Hungary, Muray carved out a career in New York: from engraver and color printer to studio portraiture to commercial work in advertising and fashion. Outside of the studio he competed in sabre fencing at national and international levels.
The inscription on the Nickolas Muray portrait, the date appears to be April 20, 1928, a close examination reveals a later addition of blue ink to clarify the “8.” Apparently, at the same session which may have taken place in 1927, Muray photographed Tiomkin seated at a piano looking at a music score with his wife, choreographer Albertina Rasch.
Decades later, Tiomkin would be photographed by another famous Hungarian-born photographer, Gyenes János.
SEE: Behind the photograph: Dimitri Tiomkin portrait by Gyenes
FURTHER READING: February 2017 Dimitri Tiomkin publicity portraits