Gouverneur met sisalplant c. 1912 - 1913

This photograph titled, "Gouverneur met sisalplant," was made some time ago and the artist is unknown. The image has this lovely, muted palette. The tones pull you in, and your eye starts searching for detail. I'm curious about the photograph itself. It’s presented as an artifact, and as a result the material presence of it is much stronger. It’s not pristine, it's aged. There is a physical process that has happened to the photograph, so you're seeing time embedded in the work. Looking closely you can see the detail in the sisalplant, as well as the figures in their garments. It makes me think about authenticity, and what it means to engage with a piece of art. This reminds me of some of the earlier photographs by Gerhard Richter, where he blurs the image. I think both pieces embrace the layers of interpretation that come with the making of art, and welcome new meaning.