Stilleven met statuette en mand c. 1852

This still life with statuette and basket was made by Eduard Isaac Asser. It's a photograph, of course, and it presents us with an ensemble of carefully arranged objects. But I think it is helpful to consider the image as a kind of craftwork in itself. Asser not only captured the objects before him; he also coaxed them into new relations of tone and form. Consider the basket, for instance. Woven from thin pliable strands, it contains what appears to be a floral arrangement. Its texture contrasts with the smooth surfaces of the statuette group, made of plaster or ceramic. These are positioned alongside a piece of crumpled fabric. The photographer’s focus is sharp, yet also sensitive. It draws our attention to the making of the image. The material contrasts, the play of light and shadow – these are the basic tools with which Asser has built a composition. In the end, this photograph makes you appreciate the artfulness that can be found in all kinds of making, high or low.