Mirroring in Water II 1950

Curator: This is Siegfried Lauterwasser's "Mirroring in Water II," a gelatin silver print. The dimensions are roughly 23 by 17 centimeters. Editor: It feels like an abstract expressionist painting, all swirling shapes and stark contrasts. The black and white tones are almost hypnotic. Curator: Exactly. Lauterwasser, known for his nature photography, particularly water, often explored abstraction within reality. Think of the post-war context, a search for new visual languages. Editor: I see how the rippling reflections break down the solidity of forms. The play of light and shadow is what truly captures the eye, creating a dynamic interplay of positive and negative space. Curator: The distortion of the reflected landscape is suggestive, almost dreamlike, inviting contemplation about the fragility of perception. Editor: A quiet reminder that what we see isn't always the full picture. Curator: Indeed. It's an elegant dance between representation and abstraction, demanding a closer look. Editor: A truly evocative image.