Deel van de tuin, Isola Bella, Italië c. 1890 - 1915

This photograph of a garden in Isola Bella, Italy, was created by Stengel & Co. What strikes me is how the tones have been distributed within the photographic frame. The balance between the light and dark gives the image a strong sense of depth. The details are incredible; you can almost feel the cool, smooth stone of the statues and the rough bark of the trees. The composition is also interesting; the lines of the garden draw your eye into the distance, towards the building in the center. The shapes and forms are so beautifully arranged it feels more like a painting than a photograph. The photograph reminds me of some of the early work by Eugène Atget. While Atget focused on capturing the essence of Paris, Stengel & Co. were trying to capture the feeling of a place like Isola Bella.