Horgász-stég (Fisherman's Dock) c. 1930

Olga Máté made this gelatin silver print of a fisherman's dock, and what grabs me is the dance of straight lines in a fluid space. The diagonals of the wooden structure cut across the gentle waves, creating this fascinating tension. I’m curious about what Máté was thinking. Was she attracted by the graphic qualities? Did she imagine it as an abstract composition of line and tone? I bet she was drawn to the reflections in the water. Photography is a way of capturing light but here it’s also about capturing the essence of a structure, almost like a drawing in light and shadow. The sharp contrast adds to this feeling, turning the ordinary into something quite striking and strange. It reminds me of some of the New Vision photography, you know, where they played with unusual angles and viewpoints. You can imagine someone like László Moholy-Nagy being into this. In the end, all artists learn from one another, and this picture inspires me, what do you think?