Eugen Wachenheimer in de tuin van een groot gebouw, 1927, Bad Kissingen 1927

This photograph, taken by a member of the Wachenheimer family in Bad Kissingen in 1927, captures Eugen Wachenheimer in what I suppose is a grand garden setting. What strikes me is the composition of the piece, almost like a landscape painting. The photograph is black and white, and you get a sense of how the photographer is using light and shadow to create depth and texture. Look at the tree next to Eugen. The bark is rough and detailed, almost tactile, set against the smooth, more simplified lines of the path and building in the background. The light feels soft and diffuse, creating a gentle contrast. I guess the photographer didn’t want anything too dramatic. Thinking about this as a process, it makes me think of the photographer as a painter, carefully composing the shot, thinking about tones, and arranging the subjects. It's all about capturing a moment in time and also constructing a specific image. It reminds me a little of the work of Gerhard Richter and his use of photography as a means to painting. There's a dialogue here, for me, about the nature of representation and the exchange of ideas that artists have across time.