BITBURG.- Renowned photographer Elger Esser presents a new exhibition, "The Narrow Waters," exploring the evocative landscapes of the Loire and its tributaries, particularly the Evre River, through a blend of photography and literary inspiration. The exhibition delves into the beauty of the French countryside, echoing the works of literary giants like Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, and Guy de Maupassant, and paying homage to the reclusive writer Julien Gracq.


From the French coast to the banks of the Loire, journey through Elger Esser's captivating photographic world.



Esser's landscapes are more than mere depictions of scenery; they are pictorial homages to nature, capturing the essence of a place at different times of day and year. His preferred hazy conditions and soft light, combined with long exposures, create images that seem to transcend time, evoking the atmosphere of early 19th-century photography. The exhibition at Bitburg specifically focuses on the Evre, a river immortalized in Gracq's 1976 book The Narrow Waters.

Following in Gracq’s literary footsteps, Esser's photographs become a visual interpretation of the writer's sensual descriptions of the river landscape. This connection between literature and photography forms the core of the exhibition, creating a dialogue between two art forms. Gracq, known for his reclusiveness and rejection of the Prix Goncourt, becomes a central figure in Esser's artistic journey.

A unique aspect of Esser's work is his distinctive printing process. Using analog photography, he transfers images onto silver-plated copper plates with a direct pigment printing technique, finishing them with shellac varnish. This method intensifies the interplay of light and color, blurring the lines between photography and painting. The exhibition showcases examples of this technique, alongside various heliogravures.

Elger Esser, a former student of Bernd Becher at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and recipient of the 2016 Oskar Schlemmer Prize, has exhibited his work in prestigious museums worldwide, including the Guggenheim Museum New York, the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and the Centre Pompidou Paris.

The exhibition "The Narrow Waters" is accompanied by a publication featuring texts by Dr. Ute Bopp-Schumacher, Julien Gracq, and a foreword by Stephanie Kaak. The book, published by Kerber Verlag, is available for purchase.


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