Berlin 1982

John Gossage’s photograph, titled Berlin, captures a tree on the banks of a river or lake, rendered in black and white. The magic of Gossage's image resides in its textures. Look at the scumbled surface of the water, the way the light flickers. Then, the almost frantic energy of the leaves. The way the edges of the branches are blurred and indistinct. The light isn't harsh; instead, it's a gentle, all-encompassing glow that softens the forms and unifies the composition. And what’s that on the water? A stray piece of paper. A lost document. The image brings to mind other photographers like Eugène Atget, who was similarly interested in documenting overlooked corners of the urban landscape. Gossage's Berlin, like Atget's Paris, is a testament to the beauty and mystery that can be found in the most ordinary of places, if we only take the time to look.