Nymphéas (Bagatelle) 1925

Eugène Atget, who took this photograph of water lilies, or nymphéas, in Bagatelle, was clearly thinking about light. I imagine Atget, head under the dark cloth, adjusting his lens, thinking about what to keep in focus and what to let blur. The light, coming in over his shoulder, illuminating the round lily pads, each a landing pad for the eye, and the unfurling white buds. The way the light and dark play with the surface of the pond, it's just dreamy. This photograph reminds me of the Impressionists' obsession with capturing light and atmosphere. Atget, working in his own medium, is having a conversation with painters like Monet, maybe even influencing them, offering his own unique take on the fleeting beauty of the natural world. It is an ongoing exchange of ideas and inspiration, across mediums and across time.