Onbekende personen, zittend en staand, bij verschillende woningen before 1897

Editor: We're looking at "Onbekende personen, zittend en staand, bij verschillende woningen," a gelatin-silver print made before 1897, potentially by Christiaan Johan Neeb. It depicts a landscape with people in front of dwellings; there is something very grainy and unclear about the landscape as captured in the image. What do you see in this photograph that stands out? Curator: I notice first the relationship between the figures and the buildings. Consider the arrangement of forms: the rectangular geometry of the built structures juxtaposed with the organic shapes of the people and vegetation. How does this contrast speak to you? Editor: I guess I hadn’t really considered it like that. The buildings and figures definitely define each other—the buildings being solid and structured while the people, the smoke in the photograph, the trees, seem to have their own natural rhythm. Is that contrast intended? Curator: The intention is not for us to say, as the image has no inscription that provides a specific viewpoint. I wonder, if you analyse the print's tonal range, you observe that the lighter areas tend to draw the eye. Where does the artist seem to guide your sight? Editor: I definitely look towards the center, because of the brighter value. And it is surrounded by many dark points, especially people in groups in different buildings in the photograph, but there are only about seven or so in the lighter-value location, which guides the eye towards a contrast of groupings. Curator: Precisely. Also, consider the photograph as a flat plane, its structure creates depth with use of tonal and visual variety. Note how light and dark are juxtaposed. Does this contrast make the print aesthetically successful in your view? Editor: Interesting, the print definitely makes the picture more dramatic with this juxtaposition. I’m beginning to see how much the composition affects my experience of the picture. Thanks for pointing this out! Curator: My pleasure, by considering the photograph's composition using formalism you have unlocked many possibilities within this piece.