"Kiss me Quick" and "Kiss me Softly." 1875 - 1899

Editor: This stereograph, entitled "Kiss me Quick" and "Kiss me Softly", by H.D. Udall, dating from 1875 to 1899, seems to show a narrow passage between rocks, or perhaps a rock formation that resembles two large boulders almost touching. It’s interesting to see landscape depicted this way. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The success of this photograph lies primarily in its formal composition. Consider the dramatic chiaroscuro, the stark contrast between light and shadow. It emphasizes the geological textures. What compositional elements do you find most striking? Editor: Well, the way the photographer framed the shot to create almost symmetrical halves that meet in a slim central gap – is that gap creating tension through contrast? Curator: Precisely! The tension arises from that very point, dividing the stereograph into contrasting sections that repeat each other but don't quite converge. And observe how the artist has printed their business information; “Imperial Gems” implying some commentary on these rocky forms. Editor: I see what you mean about the compositional balance now, and also how the materiality of the rocks works with that contrast, rather than against it. So, while there is no kissing at all, perhaps nature itself, even the non-living aspects, has tenderness. Curator: An astute reading. The beauty of formal analysis allows us to discover such nuance.