Gezicht op een bos before 1903

Here we have Franz Goerke’s “View of a Forest,” a photograph mounted in a book, found at the Rijksmuseum. It is presented in stark black and white, which heightens the contrast between the light and shadow playing across the scene. The composition is dominated by numerous tree trunks creating a sense of depth and enclosure, drawing the viewer into the dense woodland. The tight arrangement of trees destabilizes our traditional understanding of landscape. It's not about panoramic vistas, but rather an intimate, almost claustrophobic experience of nature. The absence of color simplifies the scene down to its essential structural elements of line, form, and texture. Goerke's deliberate arrangement encourages us to consider the forest not just as a natural space, but as a constructed image. This interplay of light, shadow, and form transforms the forest into a complex visual puzzle, inviting us to decode its underlying structures and consider how it challenges our perceptions of nature.