Design in Nature c. 1915

Edward Dickson made this photograph, sometime between 1880 and 1922, and he called it 'Design in Nature', which tells us something about what he was trying to do. It’s a very subtle piece, with a limited tonal range, mostly shades of brown. There's a branch with leaves, but they are blurry, indistinct. It’s almost like a memory of a plant, rather than a description. What really gets me is the way Dickson has handled the light. It's soft and diffused, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. Look how the light catches the edges of the leaves, making them glow. It’s like he’s painted with light, building up the image in layers. It reminds me a little of the way Georgia O’Keeffe would later zoom in on a flower, making it abstract and monumental. Both artists transform something small and easily overlooked into something monumental and powerful, revealing the hidden beauty of the everyday world. Ultimately, the best art invites us to slow down, look closely, and see the world in a new way.