W oblokach (In the clouds) 1916

Jan Bulhak made "In the clouds," with photography, and it’s just dreamy. It has these delicate, layered greys which evoke such a stillness. I can imagine him out there, playing with light and shadow, patiently waiting for that perfect moment when the clouds align just so. It’s a simple scene - a figure standing on a hill, but the swirling clouds behind them give everything a sense of movement. It’s like the person is about to take flight. I love the way that the clouds blur. This gives a sense of infinity, as though sky and ground are merging into one another. The photograph reminds me of the work of Caspar David Friedrich, who also explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the sublime. All of us artists are drawing on something – from memories, feelings, dreams, or other art. We’re all in an ongoing conversation with one another. What Bulhak is doing here embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, inviting multiple interpretations of the work.