Bloemen op steen-/rotsbodem 1907 - 1930

Adolphe Burdet made this photographic print called ‘Flowers on stony/rocky ground’. It looks like a humble little scene. I’m wondering where it was taken. There’s a really lovely contrast between the roughness of the rocks and the delicate pink and green sprigs of plant life. Burdet probably moved around a bit, setting up his equipment, looking for the right spot. I imagine him thinking: “Yes, this is it, this is the view I want to capture.” He probably experimented with different exposures, thinking about the light, and how to get the colours just right. It’s such a still scene but I can imagine the wind blowing softly across the landscape. The colours are beautiful: the muted pinks of the tiny flowers against the grey and brown of the rocks is sublime. All artists are magpies, picking up little things here and there. This photograph reminds me of all the other photographs and paintings of the natural world I've loved over the years. It’s like a conversation across time.