Gezicht in de Sennah Allee, Langkat Sumatra c. 1900 - 1905

This photogravure, Gezicht in de Sennah Allee, Langkat Sumatra, was made by Heinrich Ernst & Co. This is about rhythm, repetition, and the way tones repeat and resonate on the page. It's all about surface texture, with the dappled light filtering through the trees almost like a rough brushstroke. The tonal variations, from the dark, almost velvety shadows, to the soft greys and bright highlights, build depth and dimensionality. I find my eye darting around the frame, always chasing the light. Consider the way the photograph is printed on the page, the way the lines of the tree trunks lead the eye into the distance. They are like brushstrokes, aren’t they? Almost like the way Agnes Martin creates a repetitive grid, but more organic and a little rougher around the edges. It's a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places. It reminds me that, like life, art is about embracing the journey and finding beauty in the unexpected.