Varens before 1912

This photograph of ferns was created by Henry W. Taunt, and it's like a study in contrasts. The dark and light areas create a sense of depth. It's like he's trying to capture the essence of a plant, and I'm always drawn to artists who make process visible, who aren't afraid to let the seams show. There’s something about the grainy texture that gives it a raw, almost accidental feel. It's hard to tell exactly what he was thinking, which is also what I love about it! How the light catches on the edge of each leaf, and then fades into the shadows. It’s about feeling the texture of the fern, seeing how light plays with form, and discovering something new each time you look. I think the way Taunt is dealing with the image relates to some of what Alfred Stieglitz was doing at the time, finding beauty in unlikely places. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art isn’t about answers, it’s about questions, about seeing the world in new ways.