Semperoper in Dresden 1907

This is a photograph of Semperoper in Dresden, taken by Rudolph Tamme sometime in the 19th century. Look at the way the light falls, soft and even, across the ornate facade. I can imagine Tamme setting up his camera, carefully composing the shot, waiting for the right moment to capture the grandeur of this building. What was it like to stand there, in that exact spot, a century and a half ago? What sounds and smells filled the air? The architecture itself speaks of a different era, with its statues and intricate details. It reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings, those fantastical architectural spaces that blur the line between reality and imagination. Photography is a kind of drawing with light, isn't it? Tamme invites us to step into his world, to see through his eyes. His work reminds us of the power of art to connect us to the past, to preserve moments in time, to share a way of seeing.