Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam 1903 - 1938

Frans Everbag's print shows the Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam, emerging from the water like a fairytale castle. Imagine Everbag standing there, maybe on a cold day, squinting at the tower, trying to capture the way the light hits the brick, the way the water reflects everything. It's not about getting it exactly right, is it? It's about feeling the place, the light. I can see the hand of the artist trying to make sense of what's in front of him. The colors are soft, muted - mossy green, ochre, smoky gray. I wonder if he mixed them himself, carefully, or if he just grabbed what was there. The reflections are beautiful, all wobbly and broken. It feels like a collaboration between the artist and the water, a dance of light and shadow. It reminds me of other artists who have tried to capture the essence of a place, like Turner and his misty landscapes. It's like we're all in conversation, each adding our own voice to the chorus.