Boeddhabeeld in de tempel van Mendut 1875 - 1890

Editor: Here we have an albumen print from between 1875 and 1890, credited to C. Dietrich, showing a Buddha image in the Mendut temple. The setting and the figure appear serene. How would you interpret the iconography in this photograph? Curator: What strikes me is the stillness captured in both the statue and the photographic image itself. Notice how the Buddha's posture, the 'mudra' of his hands, embodies serenity, which projects powerfully in contrast to the decay within the temple setting. What feelings do you perceive? Editor: I sense a feeling of peace, and almost, endurance. The Buddha has witnessed centuries, and now, captured again through Dietrich's lens, endures once more. Curator: Precisely. Now, consider the gelatin-silver print itself, and the person seated on the lower-right of the frame. Does that add another layer to this enduring symbol? Editor: That little person next to it! In relation to the figure of the Buddha, it indicates both the sheer size of the sculpture but also suggests a human connection across time. The photographer includes someone who seems as mesmerized as I am! Curator: I completely agree. This work invites contemplation not only on the image of the Buddha, but also the interplay of the photograph and figure within the broader narrative. It shows that these symbols serve as silent storytellers connecting the viewer to the art. Editor: It is compelling to think about it in that light, the layers and visual symbols. Curator: Indeed. Visual cues, forms and subjects, repeat across cultural production through time, enriching meaning with each cycle.