Tree Roots, Saint-cloud 1920

This photograph of tree roots in Saint-Cloud by Eugène Atget shows a world of tangled forms in sepia tones. I love the way the roots snake across the frame, clinging to the earth and rocks, like veins pulsing with life. I can imagine Atget carefully composing the shot, waiting for the perfect light to capture the intricate details of the root system. What must he have thought about as he framed the shot? Perhaps he was thinking about the hidden systems that support life, the unseen networks that connect us all? It reminds me that art making is also like that – a process of uncovering, connecting, and revealing the hidden structures beneath the surface. And whether we’re talking about photography or painting, it's about finding beauty in the unexpected, and celebrating the messy, complicated, and utterly fascinating world around us. We are all in a conversation with one another.