Op de skies Possibly 1934

This black and white photograph, called 'Op de skies', depicts someone skiing, and was taken by familie Wachenheimer. The grey scale flattens this scene into an abstract composition, yet the photograph is still anchored by a feeling of place. What might it have been like to be on that slope? I can imagine the photographer thinking about how to capture movement across the surface. I see the trees and buildings as dark masses in the background, which become a kind of counterpoint to the skier in the foreground, all of these forms brought to life through the use of light and shade. The surface texture gives this work a tactile quality. This photograph is a testament to the many ways we can see the world and the enduring conversation artists have with each other through time.