In the Purisima hills Possibly 1908

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler made this photograph, titled ‘In the Purisima hills’ at an unknown date. The sepia tones and composition give the image a soft, diffused quality. It’s as if Kessler wasn't just capturing a scene but also the very air and light of that place and time. Look closely at the contrast between the wooden structure and the organic forms of the hills. The sharp angles and straight lines of the tower and buildings are set against the softly rolling landscape, creating a sense of how industry impacts nature. My eye keeps returning to the dog near the bottom left of the frame. It introduces an element of intimacy into this large scale industrial landscape, almost like a painter’s signature in the corner of a canvas. The dog is also a clever compositional element, creating a sense of depth and scale. This work reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographic series documenting industrial structures, but Kessler’s image has a more personal, almost nostalgic feel. Like the Becher’s, Kessler is showing us the beauty and the complexity of our relationship with the world around us.