Gezicht op de baai bij Port Arthur 1898 - 1899

Curator: A.N. Ljupova's photograph, “Gezicht op de baai bij Port Arthur,” which translates to "View of the Bay at Port Arthur," dating from around 1898 to 1899, is a gelatin-silver print that beautifully captures a landscape view of the sea. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Hmm, that foreground... It feels harsh, almost confrontational. A jumble of rocks like a fortress wall between us and the tranquil water. It's not what I expected. Curator: It’s an interesting tension, isn’t it? The materiality of gelatin-silver printing, a process using light-sensitive gelatin on paper, allows for a wide tonal range, seen in the gradation of grey tones here, really showcasing the textures in the rock formation. The roughness feels purposeful. Editor: Purposeful indeed! I almost feel like I am behind a ruin or like it is depicting devastation... Maybe the artist wants us to consider something more significant... Did something important happen there? Curator: Indeed, Port Arthur was the site of intense conflict during the Russo-Japanese War, which happened just a few years after this photograph was taken. Understanding that, we can infer Ljupova's perspective on imperialism. Perhaps this photograph documents the calm before the storm... Editor: That absolutely reshapes how I view this, adding such historical depth to the serene, silvery tones of the sea. So that roughness becomes more evocative. Almost prescient. Curator: Photography democratized landscape art; mass production made these gelatin-silver prints accessible. Suddenly the remotest landscapes are commodities! Editor: And with the violence... This image, with its beautiful tones but unsettling landscape, almost seems a warning to us all, an eternal echo, not just a scenic snapshot. Curator: So we are left pondering about the artist's intentions but equally about the materiality that enables them to create and distribute this vision in the world. Editor: It truly makes you feel small. Small but contemplative, thinking on the bigger issues in the world. Thank you.