Boer in een weide met koeien before 1901

This photograph by James Craig Annan shows cows in a field, probably taken sometime in the early 20th century. I can almost feel Annan standing there, adjusting the focus, trying to capture the light just right. What's fascinating is how he’s turned this everyday scene into something so evocative. The cows aren't just cows; they're almost like brushstrokes, blending into the landscape. You can see how painters like the Impressionists, who were interested in the everyday, influenced the art of photography and the work of other artists as well. Looking at this, I think about how every artist is in conversation with those who came before. They might be looking at Courbet or Constable, thinking about how to capture a sense of place, a moment in time. It’s a continual dialogue.