[Building in Lübeck] c. 1940s - 1950s

Curator: This is a photograph attributed to Laurence Feininger, titled [Building in Lübeck]. It's quite small, just 3 by 3.5 centimeters. Editor: The image is stark, almost severe. The high contrast emphasizes the architectural details, creating a dramatic upward thrust. Curator: The viewpoint is important, isn't it? Looking up like this invites us to consider the power structures represented by the building. Was Feininger interested in the way such buildings reinforced civic identity? Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe he was simply interested in the interplay of geometric forms. Look at the rectangle of the building versus the curves of the archway behind it, the contrast is striking. Curator: Good point. It reminds us how architectural photography can reflect both the artist's formal concerns and the building’s function in the broader social sphere. Editor: Ultimately, though, it's the tonal range that holds my attention. It almost abstracts the scene into shapes of light and shadow. Curator: Exactly, a testament to photography's dual nature as both a document and an expressive art form.