Monte Isola 1976

Dieter Appelt created this photograph titled "Monte Isola." It’s a photograph in muted tones, almost monochromatic, capturing a pair of hands gently holding what looks like a cicada. The hands themselves are striking, wrapped in coarse cloth. The overall impression is one of fragility and care, like a ritual. I imagine Appelt, in his studio, carefully arranging this scene. What was he thinking? Maybe something about time, cycles of life, or the connection between humans and the natural world. I find myself drawn to the textures – the rough fabric, the delicate wings of the insect, and the way the light catches on the surfaces. The image reminds me a little of Joseph Beuys, with his emphasis on humble materials and the transformative power of art. Photography, like painting, is an act of bearing witness. Appelt is in dialogue with a whole history of artists who have sought to capture fleeting moments and deeper truths through careful observation and creative expression.