Embrasure II

Georges Rousse is drawn to dilapidated buildings, often making paintings in the spaces and presenting them as single-perspective installations, as well as photographing them as trompe l’oeil compositions. In his photographs, he manipulates his monocular camera to cause painted planes to converge, creating intricate geometric forms. The French word in the title of this photograph translates to “recess” or “opening” and also refers more specifically to a splayed opening in a wall; in the military, embrasures serve to position weaponry for fortification. Playing with perspective in this image of a long hallway, Rousse fulfills both meanings, making it appear as if an opening in a wall were narrowing to a smaller aperture.