Lybisch-Punisch mausoleum, Dougga Possibly 1927

Here's a vintage photograph of a mausoleum in Dougga, taken by A.G.A. van Eelde. It's black and white, with a range of grays that give you a sense of the stone's texture and weight. I wonder what Van Eelde was thinking when they took this shot? Were they drawn to the monumentality of the structure, its silent endurance through time? I imagine them carefully framing the shot, trying to capture not just the building, but its presence in the landscape. The light, the shadows – all these elements conspire to create a mood. There’s something about the way the mausoleum stands against the sky that reminds me of Agnes Martin's quiet, meditative grids. Different mediums, sure, but both artists seem to be after a certain kind of stillness. Artists are always responding to each other, even across time and place. It’s a big conversation, you know? And this photo, it's just one little, quiet voice in the mix.