Esteban de Viguera, June 11, 1991, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. 1991

Ursula Schulz-Dornburg made this photograph, Esteban de Viguera, in 1991, documenting a very specific moment in time, as the title suggests. The image plays with light and shadow in such a way that the geometry of the architecture is highlighted. What I love is how the abstract quality of the forms emerges through the contrast of light and dark. The beam of light feels almost solid. Think about the texture of the walls – worn and rough, suggesting history and time. It contrasts with the ethereal quality of the light itself. It’s like the building is breathing. The light and shadow are active participants. You might think of artists like James Turrell, who also work with light as a sculptural medium. But here, Schulz-Dornburg captures a fleeting moment, a dance of light and shadow that is both accidental and perfectly composed. It reminds us that art is as much about observation and documentation as it is about invention.