Untitled 1980

Ursula Schulz-Dornburg made this untitled photograph, and its date is unknown. It's a monochromatic study in gray tones. The image has an ethereal quality, like looking at a dream, and that’s because of the patient layering of tones. Look at the way the light catches the water, the sharp reflections of the buildings and plantlife creating an inverted world. The textures are delicious, aren't they? You have the feathery grasses, the placid water, the coarse construction of the buildings. It's not just about what's depicted, but how Schulz-Dornburg teases out the subtleties of each element. There’s something about the desolate beauty here that reminds me of Vija Celmins's meticulous drawings. Both artists share a fascination with surface, and a knack for transforming the ordinary into something profound. It's like they're saying, hey, the world is full of wonders if you just take a moment to really look.