[Tracks by water in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Curator: This photograph, attributed to Laurence Feininger, is titled "Tracks by water in Lübeck". Its diminutive scale, only 2.5 by 3.5 centimeters, focuses the eye intently. What strikes you first? Editor: The stark contrast! The geometry of the tracks cutting through such oppressive darkness creates a deep sense of foreboding. The light seems almost spectral. Curator: Indeed. The high contrast emphasizes the textures, the cobblestones, the railway lines. It's almost a study in linear perspective, drawing us into the scene. The architecture of Lubeck is a city that joined the Nazi party early, a city with seven steeples that held relics, with a complex relationship with Catholicism, a place with its own historical narrative. Editor: It's a potent visual representation of industrial space, almost a film noir setting before its time. I wonder about the socio-economic implications of this industrial scene, of labor, and of urban progress in the early 20th century? Curator: A keen observation. Thinking about the formal qualities alongside that context enriches the photograph. Thank you for your perspective. Editor: And thank you. I'll be thinking about those spectral tracks for some time.