Carte photographique de la lune, planche IV.A (Photographic Chart of the Moon, plate IV.A) Possibly 1900 - 1914

Charles Le Morvan made this photographic chart of the moon, sometime around the turn of the last century. It’s a landscape, but a totally alien one. Looking at the image, I think about how Le Morvan must have felt, peering through his telescope, trying to capture the texture and the shadows, the sheer otherness of the moon. Each crater seems to have its own little story etched into its surface. It makes me want to start inventing histories, thinking about the cosmic collisions that formed this place. What I love about this photographic print is that it’s almost a painting. The stark monochrome creates such drama and depth, and the way the light catches those craters makes you want to reach out and touch it. It’s a reminder that art can come in all forms, from the traditional to the utterly unexpected. It makes me want to try and capture some of the magic in my own work, and that's what art's all about, isn't it?