Chinees beeld en een doosje 1935

This black and white photograph, "Chinees beeld en een doosje," was taken by Elsa Silberstein. Look at how the light and shadow play across the carved surfaces; it's like she's painting with light itself. I love the way she captures the texture and detail of the objects. See how the light catches on the ornate carvings? It reminds me of how a painter layers brushstrokes, each one building up a sense of depth and form. There's a beautiful tension between the solid forms and the intricate patterns, almost as if she's trying to capture something fleeting and intangible. It makes me think of artists like Atget, who used photography to document the disappearing world around him. Silberstein, like Atget, invites us to slow down and really see the beauty in everyday objects and the spaces they inhabit.