Strandgezicht met huizen en palmbomen in Nederlands-Indië c. 1920 - 1930

This sepia photograph by Klaas Kleiterp presents a serene view of a beach with houses and palm trees in the Dutch East Indies. I can only imagine what it might have been like to stand on that beach with Kleiterp, watching him set up his camera, a bulky thing, no doubt, on a tripod, fiddling with settings. What was he trying to capture? Was it the light, the exotic flora, or the way the buildings sat on the land? I imagine him carefully composing the scene. The composition—the positioning of the elements within the frame—creates a sense of balance and harmony. The palm trees sway gently in the breeze, while the water reflects the sky. The houses stand as quiet witnesses, their stories untold. Kleiterp's photograph invites us to pause, breathe, and reflect on the beauty of a world that is both familiar and far away. Artists are always talking to each other across time. Kleiterp invites us into that conversation.