[Water view, near Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Editor: This tiny photograph, "Water view, near Lübeck," attributed to Laurence Feininger, is so mysterious. The black and white tones give it such a stark, almost desolate feeling. What do you make of this composition? Curator: It whispers to me of solitude, doesn't it? That single pinpoint of light in the sky, surrounded by such vast darkness... it's almost like a visual representation of hope flickering in the face of overwhelming odds. The composition, so heavily weighted towards the water, suggests the immensity of the unknown. Is it comforting, or terrifying? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but I think both! Curator: Exactly! The beauty is in that very tension. What is Lubeck known for, do you think? Editor: Isn't it a port city? Maybe this photograph is about the relationship between the known and the unknown, land and sea. Curator: Perhaps! It invites us to contemplate those boundaries and what lies beyond. It is lovely to dream within the frame. Editor: It really does. I see so much more now.