La Poele, Vaux-le-Vicomte, France 1996

Michael Kenna made this gelatin silver print called La Poele at Vaux-le-Vicomte in France. The landscape, bisected by water, is still, quiet, like a meditative breath. I imagine Kenna out there, probably early morning, setting up his camera and waiting for the right light, the right mood. I wonder if he felt the weight of history there, those formal gardens and the chateau, built in the 17th century. Look at how the trees line the canal like perfectly placed soldiers, and the water doubles them in a mirror image. The clouds, too, get in on the act, swirling above and below. There’s a real sense of order, but it’s softened by the misty light and the way the reflections blur the edges. Kenna's known for these kinds of serene, black and white landscapes. It reminds me a little of Hiroshi Sugimoto’s seascapes, but with a more structured, architectural feel. Artists are always talking to each other, you know, across time and space. Each one responding to what came before, finding their own way to see and show us the world.