Albert Renger-Patzsch's photographs of the amphitheatre in Verona are almost unknown, which is probably also due to the fact that an illustrated book of his photographs of Italy, planned in the mid-1930s, was ultimately not published. Nevertheless, this photograph shows all the essential features of his clear, neo-realist photographic style: the selective image detail and the strong light-dark contrasts translate the represented architecture into a harmonious, rhythmically structured composition. With his typical mastery, the photographer thus conveys to us the essential tectonic characteristics of the ancient building and at the same time creates an image that leaves the realm of the documentary far behind due to its high aesthetic intrinsic value.
