Carte photographique de la lune, planche XI (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate XI) Possibly 1907 - 1914

Charles Le Morvan made this photographic chart of the moon—Plate XI, to be exact—at the turn of the last century. Looking at the print, I can imagine Le Morvan carefully calibrating his equipment, probably in some observatory somewhere, waiting for a clear night. There's something beautiful and melancholic about this image of the moon. The stark contrast between the black sky and the grey, cratered surface creates a palpable sense of depth and otherness. I wonder if Le Morvan felt a sense of awe or isolation when he looked through his lens? Did he think about the vastness of space and our tiny place within it? You know, painters have always been obsessed with capturing light and shadow, and here we have a photographer doing the same, but with the added layer of scientific observation. It reminds me of Vija Celmins' meticulous drawings of the night sky. Different mediums, same fascination. Artists, scientists, we’re all just trying to make sense of the universe in our own way, aren't we?