Gezicht op de Golf van Napels before 1903

This photograph, Gezicht op de Golf van Napels, was made by W. Rothermundt in Berlin. It is printed as part of a journal. The photograph reminds me that sometimes art is where you find it; here, embedded within the pages of something else. The composition is built from subtle gradations of tone that create a sense of depth in the landscape. The marks feel almost accidental, but come together to create something like a believable scene. Note the dark, almost cartoonish trees in the foreground. This contrast is what gives the work its sense of energy. There is also something about the surface of the image itself that is appealing. It looks old, weathered, and worn, just like a painting. Like a lot of found art, it almost seems like the photograph’s value comes less from the photographer and more from the printer. You know, someone like Sigmar Polke might have appreciated this piece, with his interest in printing mistakes. It is not perfect, but maybe that is the point.