m3zzaluna:

a citizen, lost in thought, walks through a complex scene. it is wintertime, for there are no leaves on the expressive branches of the plane tree, represented by its shadows on the far wall. the two benches were from the same batch and they throw clear shadows. the most rewarding piece of structure, though, is the staircase with its metal balustrades which invite more calculations. these contrast nicely with the two regular window grilles beyond. rené-jacques liked diverse structures, and to note flowing organic elements in abstract formats, he always made a point of working with restricted settings: a delimited number of steps as here, two benches, two windows, and a tree with four main branches. such scenes can be worked out, and they may remind some of us that we have the outlook of artisans. [ian jeffrey: how to read a photograph; p. 258]

en provence, c. 1955

photo by rené-jacques, from how to read a photograph

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