Artwork

Crète - Sitias, la ville blanche au bord de la mer (de près), 18 VI 20 (Κρήτη - Σητεία, η λευκή πόλη δίπλα στη θάλασσα (από κοντά), 18 Ιουνίου 1920)

Fred Boissonnas , 1920

Crète - Sitias, la ville blanche au bord de la mer (de près), 18 VI 20 (Κρήτη - Σητεία, η λευκή πόλη δίπλα στη θάλασσα (από κοντά), 18 Ιουνίου 1920) is a photography by Fred Boissonnas. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus.

About this work

The photo was taken in 1920, showing a moment of everyday life in a place called Sitia on the island of Crete.

This black-and-white photo shows a quiet seaside town packed with white buildings stacked up a hill. In the foreground, three small boats sit on the sandy shore, half in the water. The water is calm, and the buildings look simple but tightly packed together.

The photo was taken in 1920, showing a moment of everyday life in a place called Sitia on the island of Crete. The buildings’ bright white color stands out against the dark boats and the muted tones of the landscape.

Next, look up Boissonnas, Fred (1858-1946) to see more of his work.

Overview

Crète - Sitias, la ville blanche au bord de la mer (de près), 18 VI 20 is a 1920 black-and-white photograph by Fred Boissonnas, depicting a serene seaside scene in Sitia, Crete. The image features tightly packed white buildings ascending a hill, with three small boats on the shore in the foreground.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph captures a tranquil moment of everyday life in Sitia, emphasizing the harmony between the town's architecture and its coastal setting. The composition highlights the simplicity and density of the white buildings against the calm sea and muted landscape tones.

Technique & Style

Shot in black and white, the photograph leverages contrast to draw attention to the buildings' bright white color against the darker boats and landscape. The close-up perspective ("de près") intensifies the viewer's focus on the interplay between the town's structure and its seaside environment.

History & Provenance

Created in 1920 by Swiss photographer Fred Boissonnas (1858-1946), the work is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.

Context

Taken in the early 20th century, the photograph provides a historical glimpse into the architecture and daily life of a Cretan seaside town during that era, before potential modernization or tourism impacts.

Legacy

As part of Boissonnas' oeuvre, the photograph contributes to the documentary and aesthetic record of early 20th-century Greek landscapes and towns, offering insights for both ethnographic and photographic history studies.

Artist & collection

Artist

Fred Boissonnas

Fred Boissonnas (1858–1946) was an artist.

Museum

Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus

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