[Gutenburg Haus? in Lübeck] 1930 - 1937

Curator: This photographic print, attributed to Laurence Feininger, presents the "Gutenburg Haus? in Lübeck". The stark inversion of light and shadow gives it such a striking presence. Editor: It's undeniably dramatic. The high contrast isolates the architectural forms. It almost feels like a stage set, a backdrop for some unseen drama. Curator: The composition leads the eye upward, emphasizing the height and grandeur of the buildings. The way the tower looms suggests power. Editor: Is that power associated with civic authority, or perhaps with the historical significance of the printing press represented by the "Gutenburg Haus?" Curator: It could be read both ways. Feininger's choice to invert the image layers the building's facade with a sense of the uncanny. Editor: Ultimately, the photograph invites us to consider the interplay of light and shadow, and the narratives that arise. Curator: Yes, and how an unusual choice in presentation reframes our understanding.