Artwork
Sicilia Modica Farm
Sicilia Modica Farm is a photography by Bernhard Quade. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus. The photograph captures a stone farm structure in the Sicilian landscape, rendered in stark black and white.
About this work
This black-and-white photo shows a stone farm building in Sicily. It’s empty—no people, no animals, just a quiet wall and a closed door. The sunlight makes sharp shadows that almost feel like a second shape.
Quade shoots places where humans used to live but are now gone. He waits for moments when nature and man-made objects almost disappear into each other.
Try looking up Quade, Bernhard (1966).
Overview
The photograph captures a stone farm structure in the Sicilian landscape, rendered in stark black and white. The composition is devoid of any human presence, focusing on the building’s wall and a closed door, while the sunlight casts pronounced shadows that give the scene an additional, almost sculptural dimension.
Subject & Meaning
Bernhard Quade’s work often explores the interplay between nature and abandoned human habitats. By presenting an empty, silent setting, the image invites contemplation of how natural forces and the remnants of human activity intersect, suggesting a reciprocal influence that shapes both environment and perception.
Technique & Style
Quade frequently photographs the same location under varying lighting conditions, later merging the exposures to achieve lighting that would be impossible in a single shot. This method enhances the contrast and depth of the scene, emphasizing the quiet intensity and the subtle movements implied by the shadows.
Context
The photograph aligns with Quade’s broader practice of seeking sites where the traces of former human occupation blend with the surrounding landscape. By waiting for moments when the built environment and nature appear to merge, he creates images that highlight the transient boundary between the two.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernhard Quade’s photos feel like someone left the camera rolling while they lived inside the frame.
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
Continue through works from the same source collection.
