Gezicht over water in een bos 1907 - 1930

Adolphe Burdet captured this view over water in a forest with a photographic slide around the turn of the century. Born in Switzerland, Burdet’s life spanned a period of immense change, witnessing both the growth of industrialization and the emergence of photography as a means to document and represent the world. This image invites us to consider our relationship to nature. The mirroring of the trees in the still water suggests a world in harmony, a place for reflection. However, this idyllic scene belies a more complex story. As a man working at the beginning of the twentieth century, Burdet was doubtlessly influenced by the social and political conventions of his time. How might his gender and position within society have shaped his view of nature and his place within it? Consider how this image encourages us to contemplate the idealized view of nature that was often promoted during this period, and invites us to consider our own connections to the natural world.