Gezicht op de gebouwen van de papierfabriek van Godin in Hoei before 1906

This image shows an anonymous view of the Godin paper factory in Hoei. Look at the shades; the blacks, whites, and grays all working together, and it reads like an artful, careful process. It feels like someone taking their time, using a full range to translate what they see into tonal relations. The material aspects here are so fascinating. The grainy texture, that light reflecting off of the paper, all contribute to the emotional experience. It’s like a whisper, a faded memory. Notice the chimneys standing tall, and how the marks around them, like wisps of smoke, almost blend into the hillside? The way the artist renders the scene reminds me of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, those German photographers who documented industrial landscapes. They were interested in typologies, and I wonder if this artist was, too. Ultimately, art is about conversations and exchanges, embracing ambiguity and letting multiple interpretations bloom.