Capri c. 20th century

Karl Struss made this gelatin silver print, Capri, sometime during his career. The print’s sepia tone gives it a hazy warmth, kind of like looking at an old memory. I’m drawn to the way the image is almost swallowed by the shadows. You have to spend some time looking to make out all the architectural details nestled in the cliff face. I think that slow reveal is part of the point. Struss isn’t giving us a snapshot; he wants us to work for the image. Look at the little balcony clinging to the side of the cliff. It's a tiny stage, and I can almost imagine someone stepping out for a moment, a breath of fresh air, before disappearing back into the shadows. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi's etchings – that sense of monumental architecture, nature, and human presence all tangled together. Photography, like etching, is all about playing with light and dark to conjure a world.