Gezicht op de kust van Nervi c. 1860 - 1890

Alfredo Noack captured this view of the coast of Nervi in a photograph, sometime in the late 19th century. The subdued tones and expansive composition immediately establish a sense of serene contemplation. Noack masterfully uses light and shadow to articulate form and space. The receding mountain range and coastal architecture is a formal interplay between nature and human construction. The photograph's structure invites us to reflect on the relationship between these elements. Notice the texture of the rocky foreground against the smoother surfaces of the sea and sky. This contrast heightens our awareness of the photograph as a constructed image rather than a mere reproduction of reality. The act of framing a scene—of choosing what to include and exclude—highlights the photograph's conceptual nature. Noack's artistry lies in his ability to reveal not just the appearance of Nervi's coast, but also the underlying structures that shape our perception. The photograph becomes a site for exploring the interplay between objective reality and subjective interpretation.