Gezicht in Genève c. 1870 - 1900

Jean-Henri Jullien captured this black and white photograph called ‘Gezicht in Genève’. What immediately strikes you is how the composition divides into distinct horizontal bands. From the dark foliage in the foreground, our eyes move across the calm water of Lake Geneva to the buildings and the faint outline of mountains in the distance. Jullien has meticulously structured this image, using light and shadow to create depth and perspective. The photograph flattens three-dimensional space, and plays with the viewer’s perception. The use of grayscale flattens and simplifies the details, reducing complex forms to their essential tonal values. This abstraction encourages us to consider the image not just as a depiction of Geneva, but as a study in form and texture. The photograph challenges our understanding of representation, prompting us to see beyond the literal depiction and engage with the image as a constructed reality.