Untitled 1980

This is a silver gelatin print by Ursula Schulz-Dornburg, whose stark black and white photography often explores themes of landscape, architecture, and the passage of time. Looking at this, I feel drawn into the quiet intensity of the scene. The grainy texture and delicate tonal range create an atmosphere of stillness and contemplation. I imagine Schulz-Dornburg patiently waiting for the right moment, framing the composition with care. I wonder if she was thinking about the history of photography, maybe the work of photographers like Eugène Atget, who documented the changing urban landscape of Paris? What is so evocative about the image is how it is both a document and an invitation to contemplate the interplay between human presence and the natural world. The figures appear almost as silhouettes against the expansive backdrop of water and reeds, inviting us to reflect on the relationship between humanity and its environment. The picture opens up a space of imagination.