Meer in een bos nabij Arnhem 1889 - 1893

This photograph, titled ‘Meer in een bos nabij Arnhem’, by Johanna Margaretha Piek presents a scene in soft, muted tones. The oval composition draws our eye into a still body of water reflecting a dense line of trees. The photograph masterfully exploits the interplay between reflection and reality. The vertical lines of the bare trees are mirrored in the water, creating a pattern that questions our sense of up and down, solid and ephemeral. This mirroring acts as a semiotic device, symbolizing duality and the subconscious. The limited tonal range reduces the landscape to basic forms, almost abstracting the scene. This abstraction invites us to look beyond mere representation, to consider how Piek uses visual elements to evoke atmosphere and mood. It invites us to consider photography as a medium capable of destabilizing our perception of the natural world.