Drie vrienden van Dolph Kessler op een grasveld c. 1903 - 1904

Geldolph Adriaan Kessler made this photograph called "Drie vrienden van Dolph Kessler op een grasveld," or "Three friends of Dolph Kessler on a lawn", presumably with a camera, maybe sometime in the early 20th century. I love how the composition feels both casual and carefully arranged. The friends are posed naturally, yet there's a clear sense of balance and visual interest in their positioning. It almost feels like a painting. The textures are so varied – the smooth grass, the rough bark of the fallen tree, the soft fabric of their clothing. The way the light filters through the trees creates these lovely patterns of light and shadow on the figures and in the background. The contrast between the dark, dense foliage and the lighter, open space where the friends are sitting is really striking. The way one of the figures is holding a pipe suggests a narrative, like a scene from a play or a novel. There's a sense of intimacy and connection between the figures. This feels similar to early Manet paintings, which captured the essence of modern life. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, building upon what came before.