12 Point Buck 1999

Justine Kurland made this large photograph, "12 Point Buck." It’s an image that lingers in the mind, playing with ideas of color, texture, and light. The scene is a landscape filled with fallen leaves and trees. The textures are incredible, especially in the detailed ground cover and the bark of the trees. The artist's technique doesn't hide anything; it lays everything bare, and the way the light interacts with the scene gives the whole thing a kind of gritty, earthy realism. Your eye is drawn to the center, where a deer is being carried by two figures. The colors are muted, but they create this rich, autumnal feel that's almost overwhelming. Kurland’s work often explores themes of wilderness and nature. It reminds me a bit of the work of Sally Mann, who also explores the complexities of Southern landscapes in her photography. Ultimately, this piece invites us to reflect on the relationship between humans and nature.