Archeologische opgravingen bij een terp, Tószeg 1928

Jan Lanting's photograph of an archeological excavation near Tószeg, presents a monochromatic view of earth's strata. I can only imagine what it was like for Lanting to stand before this exposed earth. It feels like he wanted to bring a different kind of painting to life, one that’s embedded in the physical world. I can just imagine Lanting’s own curiosity, his quiet excitement as he peered through the camera lens. I bet Lanting's probably thinking about the slow work of time, the way layers accumulate, and the stories they hold buried within. It's funny, isn't it? How we artists try to capture a moment, but the real magic is in letting go, letting the thing speak for itself. This image is not about a single moment but the slow, steady accumulation of years, a kind of visual record, a collaboration between the artist and the earth itself. The work reminds us that making art is not always about adding something new, but also about uncovering what is already there.