Nymphéas (Bagatelle) 1925

This photogravure, Nymphéas (Bagatelle), was made by Eugène Atget in France, using a process that brings out the most incredible range of tones. For me, Atget’s work feels like a long, slow look—a real meditation on seeing. What strikes me here is the way the dark water both surrounds and reflects the lily pads. The light is soft, almost hazy, yet you can still make out the fine details of each individual leaf and flower. Notice how the dark background of trees is softened by a dark/light tonal range. It gives the impression of a quiet, almost secret space. The placement of the pads feels so intentional, so considered, yet also completely natural, as if we have stumbled upon a hidden corner of the world. I think of artists like Gerhard Richter when I see this, his way of blurring the line between photography and painting. There's a sense of searching, of not quite grasping, but always looking. And that's what keeps us coming back, right?