Gezicht op de Vøringfossen-waterval in Hordaland c. 1880 - 1898

Knud Knudsen captured this view of the Vøringfossen waterfall in Hordaland using photography, a medium that was still relatively new at the time. The photograph presents a landscape dominated by contrasts – the dark, rugged cliffs frame the ephemeral, light waterfall. This stark contrast between the solid, unyielding rock and the fluid, transient water creates a dynamic tension. The composition is structured to draw the eye upwards, from the turbulent river in the foreground to the distant cascade. The textures within the image are also striking: the rough, uneven surfaces of the rocks against the smooth, almost ethereal quality of the falling water. The photograph invites contemplation on the power of nature, contrasting the permanent with the impermanent. It is a dialogue between form and formlessness, challenging our perceptions of stability and change.