The dog table
During his residency at Belval in 2012, photographer Jean-Luc Chapin took an interest in the hunting activity and landscapes of this Ardennes estate. From the series La Table des chiens, this silver print shows a small frozen stream winding through the forest. Shot from a wide angle, it plunges the viewer into a strange atmosphere. Devoid of landmarks, the forest creates an uneasiness by its mysterious arrangement.
The documentary aspect of the photograph is sublimated by the aesthetic and decorative character of the icy water in the center of the composition. For the photographer, the fauna and flora constitute a language to be decoded. In this context, the photographic technique is a probable "translation" of the signs and imprints left by nature.
