Cain House and Methodist Church
George A. Tice; Lee Witkin / Witkin Gallery,
Description
Subject Matter:
The eleventh print in a portfolio of twelve photographs that document the former gold town of Bodie, California, this image depicts a row of wooden buildings set against a dramatic, cloud-studded sky. Tice has divided the composition into three distinct fields: in the foreground, grass and the detritus of a wooden fence—in a state of construction or decomposition, it is difficult to tell—communicates the rustic environment of the town. At middle ground, the photographer has positioned the row of houses, shot from an oblique angle that throws the buildings into deep shadow, drawing attention to their A-line rooves and simple, geometric forms. Finally, the upper third of the picture consists of the sky with clouds that appear to be swiftly streaking by. Tice captures the temporal tension between the brisk sensation of movement in the sky and the solid, seemingly permanent houses below, although the knowledge that the town of Bodie has been abandoned suggests both aspects of the image offer a reflection on the passage of time.
Physical Description:
A photograph of three wooden buildings in a rural landscape.
Usage Rights:
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.