Meer in Zuid-Afrika 1967 - 1971

Curator: Before us, we have a photograph entitled "Meer in Zuid-Afrika," which translates to "Lake in South Africa," created by Willem Jacob van den Berg, likely between 1967 and 1971. It’s a gelatin silver print, rendered in stark monochrome. Editor: There’s a haunting serenity about this image. The stillness of the water mirroring the landscape, creates a balanced composition—like a visual poem about reflection. Curator: Van den Berg's choice of the gelatin silver print is important here. It allowed for a broad tonal range, accentuating the contrast. Considering the socio-political climate in South Africa during that period, a seemingly innocuous landscape acquires a subtle, charged undercurrent. A deliberate choice, maybe? Editor: Possibly, it evokes ideas around silence and witnessing, wouldn’t you say? The landscape, even without explicit political symbols, acts as a reflector for what’s going on in South Africa and its inhabitants at that time. The trees look impenetrable on the right. It makes one wonder if this composition wasn’t just art, but some visual symbolism, too? Curator: Interesting observation, especially with the choice to depict such a landscape in monochrome—removing it from the vividness and warmth typically associated with the South African landscape, perhaps as a silent act of protest. Editor: Absolutely. Even the lake, typically a symbol of life and reflection, feels restrained here. What appears as "realism" is really a highly crafted commentary. The composition, divided between water and shore, forest and open space, feels laden with intent. Almost allegorical. Curator: Exactly, in studying art history and the impact of imagery we begin to ask about the power behind what isn't directly presented in an art piece like this. The very absence of vibrant color transforms this photograph from a mere document of landscape into something far more complex—a coded commentary on silence and visibility, against the socio-political tensions of its time. Editor: A fascinating photograph – seemingly straightforward in its realism, yet profoundly evocative in its symbolic resonance. Curator: A potent example of how even seemingly simple scenes can echo with broader cultural implications.