Wintersportvakantie in Semmering, Oostenrijk Possibly 1930 - 1932

This set of photographs, 'Wintersportvakantie in Semmering, Oostenrijk' by Berti Hoppe, feels like someone's personal scrapbook, a way of capturing a moment in time. It makes me think about how photography, like painting, is a process of selection and framing. The monochromatic palette gives it a timeless feel, doesn't it? The texture is really in the contrast – the stark white snow against the dark, looming trees. I love the little hand-written notes beside each photo, like tiny captions. Especially 'Es taut', it thaws, the melting snow is such a palpable thing. It reminds me of the way in which we construct memories through images. It's interesting to compare this to someone like Gerhard Richter, who also used photography as a source, but in a completely different way. Both artists, though, point to the ambiguous nature of images, how they can be both documentary and deeply personal at the same time.