Opvoering van Phèdre in theater Possibly 1927

This photograph, 'Opvoering van Phèdre in theater' by A.G.A. van Eelde shows columns and ruins in dark and light shades of grey. It’s like the photo has been processed to emphasise a spectrum of greys, from almost-black shadows to nearly-white highlights. The image's texture plays with your mind, it almost tricks you into thinking you're looking at a painting! The way the light catches on the stone – it's so tangible, you can almost feel the rough edges of the columns, imagining how much time has passed and the texture of the aged stone. But then, something shifts, and the photograph begins to feel like an illustration, with the way the tones are graded and juxtaposed to convey depth and form. It's a weird doubling, where the picture references both its own making, and how it wants to be seen. It reminds me of some of Agnes Martin’s quieter grids, which share the same tonal qualities. This photograph challenges us to consider photography as an art form that, like painting, doesn't need to be defined by realism but instead creates new ways of experiencing the world.