Binnenplaats bij de Yonghetempel te Peking before 1920

Donald Mennie made this photograph of the Yonghe Temple in Peking, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Look at how the tonality of the image shifts, the greys fade into each other, creating soft edges that give the scene a gentle, almost dreamlike quality. Mennie plays with texture, light, and shadow to animate the architectural vista. The rough bark of the tree anchors the foreground, in contrast to the worn smoothness of the stone pathway. The light catches the pathway at an angle, creating a contrast between the lit and shadowed side. I’m reminded of the work of Eugène Atget, especially his photographs of Parc de Sceaux, where nature and classical architecture create a similar dialogue. Both artists invite us to pause and reflect on the layers of history embedded in these spaces. Art isn't just about what you see, but how it makes you feel, the thoughts it stirs, the stories it whispers.