Visser aan de oever before 1902

This photogravure print by Gottfried Wolfsgruber is of a natural scene, printed as an illustration in a book. What strikes me first is the way the image plays with the idea of reflection, both literally and figuratively. The trees by the waters edge are mirrored by the stillness of the lake. The textures and tones of the photograph are really interesting. The soft grays and blacks make the image feel both intimate and expansive. The way the light catches the tree branches makes them look like delicate brushstrokes, almost as if the photograph is a painting. The composition is simple, yet it draws you in. The eye is led from the strong vertical of the central tree trunk to the reflected light on the water. It reminds me a little of the paintings of Gerhard Richter. Both artists explore the way in which images can be both representational and abstract at the same time, inviting us to look beyond the surface and contemplate the deeper layers of meaning.