Basel, Zwitserland c. 1890 - 1925

This photogravure of Basel, Switzerland, probably made with a camera and some kind of printing press, shows a city bisected by a river, and united by bridges. I’m trying to imagine being this artist, or these artists, Photoglob & Co. What were they thinking? How did they decide where to position the camera? What to include in the frame and what to leave out? The tonal range is exquisite. The bridge that stretches across the frame is so satisfying in its horizontality. It invites you into the depths of the image, allowing you to travel into the distance. There’s a great tradition of river views in painting, from the Impressionists, to the Hudson River School. Each offers a different way of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world. But this one is a photograph. What does that do to the conversation? I love it! It's all about the exchange of ideas across time, inspiring creativity.