Gezicht op de Rijnvallei bij Sankt Goar 1900 - 1906

This small photograph, *Gezicht op de Rijnvallei bij Sankt Goar*, shows us the Rhine Valley with what looks like a silvery, almost ghostly palette. It's all about layers, right? Like how the landscape itself is formed over time, Delizy seems to be saying photography is also about the accretion of light, shadow, and time. Look at the texture of the hills. It's not just a flat backdrop; you can almost feel the way the light catches the rough terrain. The tone is very subdued and dreamlike; you could be forgiven for thinking this a watercolour, maybe even a painting! The lack of strong color flattens the composition and so much detail is lost, but that makes the shapes really stand out. Look how those boats on the river are mere smudges. It reminds me of some of Gerhard Richter’s landscapes, where detail is blurred, and you see the world through a soft, hazy filter. I think this photograph, like a painting, encourages us to look beyond the surface and see what emerges from the shadows.