[Acropolis, Athens, Greece] 1850 - 1855

James Robertson captured the Acropolis in Athens with his camera, creating a print that plays with light and form. The ochre tones and the ruins of the ancient structures create a visual sensation that speaks to the passage of time and the endurance of classical architecture. The image is composed around the vertical thrust of the remaining columns, their fluted shafts catching the sunlight which in turn casts deep shadows that delineate their form. The remnants of the entablature above create a fragmented horizontal line, contrasting with the upward directionality of the columns. Robertson uses the play of light and shadow to give texture to the stone, emphasizing its materiality and inviting contemplation on the contrasts of light and form. In viewing this photograph, we are not only seeing the Acropolis but also engaging with a visual interpretation that uses the camera's unique ability to capture the monument's structural and textural elements. Robertson makes us think about the enduring impact of classical ideals.