Bloemen op steen-/rotsbodem 1907 - 1930

Adolphe Burdet made this photograph, Bloemen op steen-/rotsbodem, sometime around the turn of the last century, and he made it with light. The process of photography, like painting, is all about capturing light, fixing an image, and this feels immediate, like a glance. The surface has this grainy texture and the colours are muted, almost desaturated, giving it this hazy, dreamlike quality. Looking closely at the clusters of tiny flowers, you can almost feel the rough texture of the stone. It is so different from the high resolution we're used to now. It is like you can see the hand of the artist in the choices around focus and tone. This image reminds me a little bit of the paintings of Pierre Bonnard, who worked at around the same time, capturing fleeting moments of beauty in everyday life. Both artists invite us to slow down and appreciate the small details.