Gezicht op een bergmeer before 1897

This photogravure, titled "Gezicht op een bergmeer" (View of a Mountain Lake) was created by Walter Dwight Wilcox. The monochromatic image presents a stark and contemplative scene, immediately drawing the viewer into its structured simplicity. The composition is anchored by the still surface of the lake. The reflection of the surrounding landscape in the water creates a mirroring effect that blurs the boundary between reality and illusion. This visual doubling is reinforced by the symmetry of the trees lining the shore, a visual trick that enhances the sense of depth. Wilcox employs a restrained palette, relying on the subtle gradation of tones to evoke a sense of spatial recession and atmospheric perspective. The lake's glassy surface acts as a mirror, reflecting light and shadow with a mesmerizing clarity that underscores the inherent duality of perception. This work invites us to consider how perception shapes our understanding of reality.