Untitled (model window, open) c. 1950

This photograph of a window was made by Robert Burian at an unknown date. There's something so architectural about photography, don't you think? The sharp lines, the way light and shadow create structure – it's all about building a world within a frame. This image is so much about capturing the feel of an open window, it's like Burian wanted us to feel the breeze. It's also fascinating how the medium itself – photography – plays with transparency and opacity. The glass of the window is clear, allowing light to pass through, but the dark frame is solid, holding everything in place. And there’s a real push and pull – the window is open, inviting us to look outside, but the photograph flattens everything, reminding us that we’re just looking at a surface. Thinking about other artists, someone like Bernd and Hilla Becher comes to mind, with their systematic approach to photographing industrial structures. But unlike their objective documentation, Burian’s image feels more personal, more poetic. It embraces ambiguity, inviting us to imagine what lies beyond the frame.