De Müngstener brücke over de Wupper rivier c. 1902

Frits Freerks Fontein Fz. made this photograph of the Müngstener Bridge over the Wupper River. The sepia tones are gorgeous, aren’t they? It reminds me that the making of art is such a hands-on, material process, like developing this photograph. The tones feel warm, like a memory, or an antique. Look at the way the bridge spans the distance; it’s so delicate! The river and foliage below are captured with broad strokes, giving an impression of depth and texture. And then, further back, the hulking bridge dominates the frame like the bones of a skeleton. This area in the center—the bridge, the trees, the river—it’s so tactile. You can almost feel the grain of the paper and the smooth sheen of the developed photograph. The contrasts and textures create an incredible emotional resonance. Fontein’s ability to capture the grandeur of a man-made structure within nature reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographs of industrial architecture. Their approach to form and the act of seeing is ever-present in this landscape.