Brug over de Wenih Rongka 1903 - 1913

This photograph of a bridge over the Wenih Rongka, was made by an anonymous artist at an unknown time. I love how the composition seems to emerge from a process of layering. The artist seems to be building up a view in which the eye is drawn into a complex network of forms and textures. Look closely, and you’ll see how the muted tones and shades emphasise the tactile qualities of the landscape. The rough stonework and dense foliage are so different to the smooth surfaces of the bridge. It's as if the artist wants us to feel the contrast between the natural world and human intervention. The dark, tangled undergrowth in the foreground is so interesting. It feels like the artist is letting the image grow organically, much like the landscape itself. Thinking about other artists who explore similar themes of nature and construction, someone like Bernd and Hilla Becher comes to mind. But whilst their work has a sense of cool detachment, this photograph has a raw, almost vulnerable quality. Maybe it’s just that art has to embrace uncertainty, and open itself to multiple ways of seeing.