Magical Realism in Sally Mann’s "Window to Another World"
In a world where reality and fiction are often so closely intertwined that the boundaries between them become almost indistinguishable, the art of photography acquires a special power. It is capable of not only capturing a moment, but also turning it into something more - a window into another world, where time flows differently, and the past and present merge. Sally Mann, one of the most influential photographers of our time, in her series of photographs Deep South (Deep South), creates exactly such a world - a world where magic and reality intertwine in a bizarre dance, and each frame becomes a mystery that you want to solve endlessly.
Magic realism is a genre that erases the boundaries between the real and the supernatural, creating a unique artistic world where magic becomes part of everyday life. The time of its origin is the first half of the 20th century, it has become one of the most significant trends in world literature and painting, combining mythology, folklore and contemporary social issues.
Magical realism as a term first appeared in the 1920s. It was introduced by the German art critic Franz Roch. Roch understood magical realism as a return to realism from the more abstract style of expressionism. However, in literature, this term began to be actively used later, in the 1940s, thanks to Latin American writers who made it one of the key trends in world literature.
Magical realism became especially popular in Latin America in the middle of the 20th century. This was a time when the countries of the region were experiencing political and social upheaval, and writers were looking for new ways to express their cultural identity. Latin America, with its rich mythology, cultural mix and colonial past, became the ideal breeding ground for the development of this genre.
One of the first authors to draw attention to magical realism was the Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier. In his work The Kingdom of Earth (1949), he introduced the concept of “lo real maravilloso” (“the marvelous reality”), emphasizing that magic and miracles are an integral part of the reality of Latin America. Later, authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar and others made magical realism world famous.
The American South has always been an important theme in the work of Sally Mann. She grew up in Virginia, and the landscapes of this region, its history and culture have had a huge influence on her work. In the project Deep South, Mann explores the nature of the South, its mystical beauty and dark past. She uses an ancient collodion printing technique, which gives her photographs a special depth and atmosphere.
The American South is a region rich in history, culture, and contradictions. For Sally Mann, it is not just a location, but also the protagonist of her work. One of the key features of Mann’s magical realism is her ability to turn nature into a character. Trees, rivers, fogs — all of them become carriers of emotions and meanings. For example, her photograph “Oak Alley” depicts old trees that seem to be living beings, keepers of secrets. Their branches, curved and gnarled, resemble hands reaching for the sky. The light breaking through the foliage creates the feeling that the tree is about to come to life. This image is not just a landscape, it is a symbol of time that flows, but never disappears completely. In Deep South, nature becomes the protagonist. Trees, rivers, fogs — all of these are not just elements of the landscape, but living beings with their own souls. Mann photographs nature as if it were telling its own story. Her photographs are filled with symbols: tree roots that seem like hands reaching out from the ground; fogs that hide the secrets of the past; rivers that carry in their waters the memory of times long gone. For example, in one of the pictures we see an old house surrounded by trees. Its walls are covered with moss, and the roof has almost collapsed. This house is not just a building, it is a symbol of a bygone era. It reminds us of the people who once lived here, of their joys and sorrows. Mann shows that the past never disappears completely, it lives on in the memory of nature and people. Although nature is central to Deep South, man is also present in these photographs, but indirectly, his images are often blurred, almost ghostly. This is no accident. Mann shows that man is only a part of nature, not its master. His presence is fleeting, while nature is eternal. In one of the pictures we see a figure of a man standing on the bank of a river. His silhouette is barely distinguishable, he merges with the surrounding landscape. This creates the feeling that man is only a temporary guest in this world, and nature will continue to exist after he is gone.
One of the key themes of Deep South is time and memory. Mann takes pictures of places that seem frozen in time. Her photographs are filled with nostalgia for the past, but this is not just nostalgia, it is an attempt to understand how the past affects the present. Mann shows that the past never disappears completely, it continues to live in the memory of nature and people. Light and shadow play a key role in Mann's work. She uses them to create dramatic effects that enhance the feeling of magical realism. In many of the photographs, light shines through fog or foliage, creating the feeling that we are looking at the world through the prism of time. Shadows, which often appear in her works, also carry symbolic meaning. They remind us that there is always something more hidden behind the visible reality. Shadows are not just the absence of light, they are a reflection of another world that exists in parallel with ours.
In Deep South, Sally Mann creates a world where reality and magic are so closely intertwined that it becomes impossible to separate one from the other. Her photographs are an invitation to another dimension, where time flows differently, and nature and man exist in harmony. Mann's magical realism is a way to see the world in a new way. Her works are a reminder that magic exists. It is all around us. In the light, in the shadows, in the trees, in the rivers. You just need to be able to see it. And Sally Mann sees it. And through her lens we see it.
Sally Mann creates a unique visual language that combines documentary and magical realism. Her photographs are reflections on time, memory and human history. Through the use of light, composition and the collodion process, she transforms real places into mystical spaces where the past and the present, reality and magic, man and nature merge. And in this world, everyone can find something for themselves, something that will make them think about the eternal questions of existence. Sally Mann doesn't just photograph nature, she creates myths. And in these myths, each of us can find a reflection of our own soul.
Oleg Astakhov, 2025
Sources:
1. Mann, Sally. *Deep South*. Bulfinch Press, 2005.
2. Zamora, Lois Parkinson, and Wendy B. Faris, eds. "Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community". Duke University Press, 1995.
3. Bright, Deborah. "The Passionate Camera: Photography and Bodies of Desire". Routledge, 1998.
4. Barthes, Roland. "Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography". Hill and Wang, 1981.
5. Sontag, Susan. "On Photography". Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1977.