Cape Meares, Oregon 1960

This silver gelatin print called Cape Meares, Oregon, was made by Minor White, who, like a painter, worked with shades and tones to build form, only using light rather than oils or acrylics. The surface is so detailed it’s hard to know exactly what we’re looking at. The composition is dark, almost claustrophobic. It's a mass of tangled lines and shapes. Highlighting gives the image a strange sense of depth, yet it's also flat, like a rubbing. See how the stark contrast of the blacks and whites creates a chaotic energy, like a storm frozen in time? The way the light moves across the surface reminds me of Cy Twombly's blackboard paintings, where marks accumulate into a dense field of energy. Both artists share an interest in process, in letting the material speak for itself. Ultimately, White’s photo is a reminder that art isn't always about clear answers, it’s about embracing the unknown and finding beauty in the unexpected.