Monte Salvatore en het Meer van Lugano gezien richting Porlezza 1897

This photograph, Monte Salvatore en het Meer van Lugano gezien richting Porlezza, is an anonymous work displayed at the Rijksmuseum. The composition invites the eye to follow the lake's path as it recedes into the distance, framed by mountains on either side. The photograph's monochromatic palette emphasizes the contrast between light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and atmospheric perspective. The tonal range, from the dark, rocky outcrops in the foreground to the pale, misty mountains in the background, articulates the three-dimensional space. Consider the photograph as a set of signs which point to the sublime. The mountain and lake—symbols of nature's grandeur—were often depicted during the Romantic era. As such, the image seeks to destabilize established meanings of landscape photography by focusing on form and composition. Ultimately, this photograph functions as a visual discourse. It engages with how we perceive and represent space. Its enduring appeal lies in its structural arrangement and its capacity to evoke a sense of awe.