Palermo_ In the Park of the Villa Tasca Possibly 1895 - 1925

Wilhelm von Gloeden took this photograph, *In the Park of the Villa Tasca*, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. The photograph pictures a park, an arched bridge, and some ambiguous ruins. I wonder what it was like being von Gloeden that day, lugging around the equipment. The eye strains to make out the details in the photograph and I appreciate the formal quality and tone of the sepia. The choice to include a view of the ruins through the archway adds depth and mystery. It reminds me of Piranesi's etchings of Rome, an image of the past viewed through romantic eyes. The bridge itself acts like a frame, drawing us into a world where time seems to stand still, full of the remnants of humanity and an acknowledgement of the past. I feel a great sense of space here, a place of quiet contemplation.