[Church in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Curator: This rather diminutive black and white photograph, only 3.5 by 2.5 cm, is attributed to Laurence Feininger and presents a view of a "Church in Lübeck." Editor: It's striking how the stark contrasts emphasize the architectural forms, creating a sense of dramatic monumentality despite the small scale. The inverted tones give it an ethereal, almost otherworldly quality. Curator: Indeed. The image's materiality is also important, though. As a photograph, it's inherently tied to the technological processes of its creation. Consider also the social context: Feininger, though related to Lyonel Feininger, was a Benedictine monk and musicologist. Was this merely documentation, or something more? Editor: The composition clearly considers line and form. The eye is drawn upward by the converging lines of the architecture, emphasizing height and perhaps spiritual aspiration. The dark roof contrasts so sharply with the facade. Curator: Perhaps Feininger, in his role as a religious figure, was interested in the material reality of the church itself – the labor and resources that went into its construction as a testament to faith? Editor: Regardless, the interplay of light and shadow transforms the building into a study of pure geometric shapes. It's quite effective. Curator: It gives us a lot to consider about the labor of artmaking. Editor: Yes, a compelling interplay of form and meaning.