Tuin achter de Art Building op het terrein van de wereldtentoonstelling in St. Louis (Louisiana Purchase Exposition), 1904 1904

Jan Schüller took this photograph of the garden behind the Art Building at the world exhibition in St. Louis in 1904. The subtle gradations of tone, from light to dark, suggest he was trying to evoke a certain mood, maybe even capture the feel of a hazy summer day. What I find interesting is how the material quality of the photograph, its texture and surface, really contribute to the overall emotional experience. Look closely, you can see the paper it’s printed on is quite thin, and there are slight imperfections, little specks and spots. These aren’t flaws, they’re part of the process, part of what makes it unique. The dark and blurry water running along the bottom of the frame is a particularly interesting gesture in the image, almost as if the picture is dissolving back into pure light. Schüller’s work reminds me a little bit of some of the early Impressionist painters, like Monet, who were also interested in capturing fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. Ultimately, this photograph, like any artwork, is an invitation to slow down, to look closely, and to find your own meaning in the image.