Galisteo, New Mexico 1999 - 2000

Curator: This is Helmut Federle's "Galisteo, New Mexico," held here at the Tate. Editor: It's overwhelmingly blue, isn't it? Like stepping into a memory, or a dream of a forest. Curator: It's a cyanotype, a photographic printing process that gives that distinctive cyan-blue print. These were first created in the 1840s. It became known as a predominantly feminine technique due to Anna Atkins, who was known for her botanical impressions. Editor: Yes, I see the botanical echoes. The branches arching overhead feel protective, almost maternal. The color lends it a timeless, almost spiritual quality. Curator: Interesting to think of this quiet scene carrying that association. In the context of photographic history, it's speaking to the gendering of the technique. Editor: I wonder about the setting itself, Galisteo. New Mexico has long been a draw for artists. Curator: Yes, Federle is Swiss, but he clearly felt a pull to that American landscape, embedding the history of the place into his work. Editor: Seeing the way the shadows play, one can understand the allure for generations. Curator: Absolutely. A simple method, with a wealth of artistic history.