The Ferry c. 20th century

Editor: This is Mary Devens’ “The Ferry,” a gelatin-silver print from around the turn of the century, here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I'm struck by the photograph's hazy, almost dreamlike quality. The figures are softened by the muted light, creating an image that feels more like a memory than a captured moment. How do you read the tonal values here? Curator: I think you've nailed it - "memory" is such a key word here. The indistinct, silvery tones are working overtime! For me, "The Ferry" isn't just a photograph, it's an elegy cast in silver. A vanished world glimpsed through the mists of time. I find the overall effect is utterly enchanting. I always wonder about those houses receding in the distance - are they still there, do you think, stubbornly refusing to give way to a newer, louder reality? And what do you think the artist intends with these hazy details, rather than focusing on sharpness? Editor: That's a wonderful perspective. The houses really do invite questions about time and place. And maybe Devens is prioritizing the feeling of the scene. Rather than sharp detail, the diffusion creates an impression of gentle stillness. Did Devens focus on light and water themes often, as an element? Curator: Yes, absolutely, you are spot on about "stillness"! Water was definitely a reoccurring motif for Devens. Light flickering on water, like feelings flickering in the heart…she had such a sharp understanding of visual poetics, using her camera almost as a pen, not just to record but to ruminate. She could transform any subject into a reflection on beauty and, perhaps, its ephemeral nature. Editor: This really adds to the work for me - thanks for showing a whole new angle on Devens' photo work! Curator: And thank you for reminding me to pause and lose myself in the dream...every picture should feel like diving into a silvery lake.