Moskee van de Sjah (Masjed-e Shah) in Isfahan, Perzië c. 1925

A.G.A. van Eelde made this photo of the Moskee van de Sjah, now the Masjed-e Shah, in Isfahan, Persia. It’s a photograph, of course, so mark-making isn’t the first thing you think about, but look closer, and you can see how the light and shadow fall, creating a palette that speaks volumes. There’s so much texture here, right? The rough, worn surfaces of the buildings contrasting with the intricate patterns above the archway. The way the light etches out the details. I'm drawn to the archway. The patterns are so beautiful and delicate. It looks like it was made using stencils, and the artist seems to be interested in using the forms and composition to balance detail with the monumental. Van Eelde, with his keen eye, reminds me a bit of Bernd and Hilla Becher. Both see photography as a form, embracing all the potential for interpretation and ambiguity.