Venusbeeld van Thorvaldsen, met spiegelbeeld 1866 - 1880

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, “Venusbeeld van Thorvaldsen, met spiegelbeeld,” which roughly translates to “Venus Statue of Thorvaldsen, with reflection”, was captured by Rudolph Rogorsch sometime between 1866 and 1880. I find the mirroring effect of the statue striking – almost like two different interpretations of the same ideal. What do you make of this composition? Curator: Ah, yes, a double dose of Venus! What captivates me is the dance between the ideal and the real. It's as though Rogorsch is saying, "Here's perfection," then immediately asking, "But what does perfection *look* like, really?" The hazy warmth of the gelatin-silver print adds a layer of dreaminess, almost as if we are peeking into a sculptor’s studio, the birthplace of legends. It’s a mirror reflecting a reflection, which makes you wonder where reality even begins. Don’t you think the soft focus suggests something more felt than seen? Editor: That’s an interesting point about the feeling versus seeing! I hadn’t considered how the softness contributes to that dreamy effect. So, it's not just about replicating a classical sculpture, but also about evoking a mood? Curator: Precisely! It is more about the longing for something unreachable, a god caught in the amber of photographic time. Editor: So, the photograph itself becomes a sort of relic, capturing not just the image of Venus, but also a yearning for a bygone era of classical ideals. Curator: Exactly! It’s an echo, whispering to us across the centuries. Editor: It gives you a lot to consider! Curator: Absolutely! That's the fun, isn’t it? Each glance reveals a different facet of the conversation, the whispers, the sighs across time.