Gezicht op een waterval in de Gorges d'Enval in de Auvergne 1902

Curator: At first glance, this photograph envelops you with a sense of being peacefully remote, almost forgotten. The muted tones lend it a wistful, dreamlike quality. Editor: We’re looking at “Gezicht op een waterval in de Gorges d’Enval in de Auvergne” – that’s “View of a Waterfall in the Gorges d’Enval in the Auvergne,” a stunning photographic print by Delizy, dating back to 1902. It’s now held at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: The way Delizy has composed this image is remarkable. Notice how the cascading water cuts a sharp, almost violently bright line through the otherwise subdued and intricate landscape. There’s a deliberate use of contrast at play here. Editor: Absolutely, there’s something inherently theatrical about it. The framing with those craggy rocks and the overhanging foliage on the right side makes the waterfall feel like the star performer on a stage. The softness suggests a pictorialist approach, a technique common then that blurred the lines between photography and painting. It really does tug at something primal—a yearning for the sublime, maybe? Curator: That yearning translates formally through the tonal scale, ranging from nearly black crevices to highlights verging on white. This dramatic value range articulates depth and form masterfully. And there's an engagement with realism, too, albeit a softened, romanticized vision of it. Editor: Yes! Despite the technical mastery and representational aspects, it carries this sense of freedom. As if Delizy didn't want just a replica, but also something emotional and atmospheric that mirrored his personal vision. Curator: I agree entirely. The soft focus and limited palette do imbue it with a decidedly romantic sensibility—almost dreamlike and deeply expressive. Editor: Makes you wonder what the Gorges d'Enval sounds like in person. Something tells me this photograph only gives us half the story! It sparks curiosity which makes it quite enchanting in its own quiet way.