Gezicht op de sfinx en piramide van Cheops, Gizeh c. 1900 - 1910

This photogravure of the Sphinx and Pyramid of Cheops in Gizeh, was made by Mr. L. de Bruyn sometime in the late 19th century. Look at how the sepia tone flattens the space, turning the monumental into something almost domestic in scale. The texture of the image is really interesting, it's grainy, and this lends an almost painterly quality to the image, giving it a tactile feel. I'm particularly drawn to the surface of the pyramid, the blocks of stone, each one slightly different, catch the light in their own way. This reminds me of the way paint can behave, each stroke holding a slightly different quality depending on the pressure and the angle of the brush. This image also reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, the way they systematically documented industrial structures, elevating them to a kind of monumental status through the act of repetition and careful observation. Ultimately, this image is a reminder that art is about seeing, and about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.