Gezicht op Ithaka en Kefalonia before 1910

Frédéric Boissonnas made this photograph titled 'Gezicht op Ithaka en Kefalonia'. The image to the left presents a coast line with foliage to the top-left and the horizon trailing into the distance. The light appears to be very soft, almost as though we are viewing the scene through a veil, which gives the artwork a dreamy feel. The light plays across the surface of the water and the distant mountains. Looking at the image to the right, we see a distant view of another mountain range. Again, a muted palette is used with light blues and greys depicting the contours of the natural landscape. The soft haziness of the mountains, the way the peaks fade into the distance, creates a sense of mystery. It reminds me of the landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich, although Boissonnas uses photography to capture these natural scenes, there is a shared appreciation for the sublime beauty of nature. I find it interesting how photography enables a sense of realism, yet it is still up to the eye of the artist to frame and capture a particular moment in time.