The Wondrous Globe 

Anne Brigman created this photograph, titled *The Wondrous Globe*, using gelatin silver print, sometime in the early 20th century. A nude boy sits on a rocky outcrop, gazing intently at a sphere resting nearby. Brigman uses light and shadow to sculpt the boy’s body, creating a soft, almost dreamlike quality. This ethereal quality invites us to consider the photograph as more than just a depiction of a scene. Brigman uses the formal elements to suggest a deeper exploration of symbolism and meaning. The sphere is not just a ball but an emblem of potential and the unknown. The child becomes an allegory for curiosity and the human desire to understand the world. The composition encourages us to ask what the child sees in the globe, and what it represents for us. The photograph serves as a catalyst for introspection. Brigman uses form to open a space for us to question and reflect on the mysteries of existence.