Deel van de Pink Terraces langs Lake Rotomahana c. 1865 - 1875

This photograph of the Pink Terraces along Lake Rotomahana was taken by Daniel Louis Mundy sometime in the 19th century. The photograph presents us with a study in contrasts, the textured, almost sculptural form of the terraces against the soft, indeterminate sky. Mundy frames the terraces in a way that emphasizes their stratified structure. The horizontal lines of the terraces create a rhythmic pattern that is only interrupted by the dramatic vertical drop of the cliff edge. This interplay of horizontals and verticals gives the photograph a sense of tension, a visual push and pull that animates the landscape. The photograph invites us to consider the relationship between nature and representation. The Pink Terraces were a natural wonder, but Mundy’s photograph transforms them into an aesthetic object. This act of framing and capturing alters our perception, prompting us to see the landscape not just as a place, but as a complex arrangement of forms, tones, and textures. The interplay of light and shadow renders the terraces with a sculptural presence, creating a sense of depth and volume within the two-dimensional plane.