Act II: The Voyage: Where they came upon fantastic Creatures Possibly 1980 - 1981

This strange and wonderful photograph titled 'Act II: The Voyage: Where they came upon fantastic Creatures' was made by Arthur Tress in 1940. Tress has such a great eye, doesn't he? It’s like he stumbled upon this bizarre opera set in a dream. Look at the way he's arranged the elements: the stiff porcelain figure, the fantastical beast with its rope leash, and the lush, almost overwhelming backdrop. The details are so intriguing, like the peeling paint on the opera box and the intricate patterns of the jungle scene. It feels like he's inviting us into this otherworldly space. It's the kind of image that sticks with you, prompting you to ask questions without offering easy answers. I think of artists like Joseph Cornell, who crafted these amazing, uncanny boxed assemblages - both Tress and Cornell embrace the weird, the whimsical, and the utterly unique.