Carte photographique de la lune, planche III.A (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate III.A) Possibly 1902 - 1914

This is Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate III.A, made by Charles Le Morvan sometime between 1865 and 1933. It's a photograph, so no brushstrokes, but the way light dances across the craters is kind of painterly, right? Look at the texture here. It’s not just smooth gradations; there’s a real grit to it. Each little pit and ridge seems to catch the light differently. I love how the greyscale, almost sepia tone emphasizes the raw, mineral quality of the moon. See how the light grazes the edge, creating these deep shadows? It makes the whole surface feel like a landscape in itself. I’m reminded of the lunar landscapes of 1960s science fiction movies! Art's funny like that, taking something distant and making it feel personal. And this piece? It makes me want to get lost in the details, just like any good abstract painting. Ultimately, it’s just marks on a surface, marks that invite us to look, to wander, and to wonder.