María José — José María

Photographs — Alex Waterhouse-Hayward

In my extensive Katheryn Petersen files there is an envelope marked:

In Studio III — José María — Katheryn’s friend.

This cannot possibly be right. In Spanish the name José María is common for men and its inverse María José for women.

I have no memory as to where María (I will play this safe) was from or if she spoke Spanish. The only memory I have of her was that when she faced my camera she was inscrutable.

I wonder what may have happened to her? I can tell you that since (the early 90s) when I took this photograph Miss Petersen has become a virtuoso accordionist who has a yearly show called Accordion Noir.