Untitled 1980

Curator: Immediately, this black and white photograph by Ursula Schulz-Dornburg exudes a quiet stillness. The composition is dominated by the water’s reflection, which nearly mirrors the sky and horizon above. Editor: Yes, it feels intensely symbolic. All the figures, both human and animal, appear to be journeying toward a vanishing point, becoming silhouettes as they walk along this causeway. Are they headed somewhere specific, or is this more a representation of passage itself? Curator: Knowing Schulz-Dornburg’s interest in documenting the fringes of society and her exploration of landscape as witness to societal changes, this image from 1980 is especially evocative. The power lines also speak volumes. Editor: They pierce the horizon, don't they? It’s as if Schulz-Dornburg captured a fragile moment before industrial expansion irrevocably changed this timeless landscape. Look at the two figures - their dress and pace create a strong sense of tradition, while the telephone pole suggests impending modernity. That creates tension for me. Curator: I agree. This photograph documents a transition period—rural ways of life being encroached upon by modernization. But it avoids being heavy-handed; the reflection softens the image, inviting contemplation rather than judgement. Editor: The choice of monochrome adds to that timeless quality, but I feel its psychological effects here. Black and white often pushes forward a sense of dream or memory, a moment distilled into its purest, almost archetypal form. Water as reflection, earth as passage. It almost demands deeper introspection. Curator: And I find it striking that Schulz-Dornburg uses such a simple composition to suggest the complex forces that shape a landscape and, by extension, the lives of people connected to it. Editor: This interplay, I find that the lasting impression is not one of resignation, but perhaps resilience. A powerful visual elegy. Curator: Indeed, seeing through time, this is more of a cultural study and visual history. Editor: An exercise of light, lines and living between nature and modernity.