Landscape near Stillwater, Minnesota Possibly 1975 - 1989

Frank Gohlke made this photograph, Landscape near Stillwater, Minnesota, using traditional darkroom processes. The final print, cool and neutral in tone, belies the labor involved. Gohlke worked with light-sensitive paper, which gives this photograph its particular texture and tonal range. It is not a slick surface; you can see the very fine grain. Look closely, and you'll notice the artist's hand in the dodging and burning of the image: areas held back from the light, others coaxed to greater darkness. The darkroom is not just a site of mechanical reproduction, but of skilled manipulation. It takes time and care to make an image like this. The result is not a quick snapshot, but a carefully considered meditation on the landscape, and humanity’s place within it. This photograph reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the result of thoughtful choices, and that materiality and making are key to understanding the full meaning of an artwork.