Piz Popena in het Cristallomassief c. 1889 - 1920

This photograph of Piz Popena in the Cristallomassief looks like it was created with a camera and then hand painted, a common practice in the early days of photography. There’s something about the way the cool blues and whites of the snow meet the warm browns of the rock that reminds me of Gerhard Richter’s paintings, where he blurs the lines between photography and painting. Notice how the photographer or painter, has used a very limited palette, focusing on the interplay between light and shadow to create a sense of depth and volume. The way the snow is rendered, with its subtle gradations of tone, is particularly striking. It’s almost as if you can feel the cold, crisp air on your skin. This photograph is a reminder that art doesn’t always have to be about grand gestures or bold statements. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, unassuming moments that speak the loudest. It invites us to slow down, to pay attention, and to appreciate the beauty that’s all around us.