Mannen melken koeien in een wei in Kralingen c. 1905 - 1907

Folkert Idzes de Jong took this photograph of men milking cows in a meadow in Kralingen. It's small, like a little window into another world. I look at this scene and imagine de Jong setting up his camera in the meadow and waiting patiently to capture this scene just so, but that’s not the whole picture. It’s not just a depiction of men milking cows. I can feel de Jong’s presence, his curiosity and care in selecting this composition. The muted tones create a dreamy atmosphere, as if we’re peering into a distant memory or a faded postcard. The texture of the grass, the reflection in the water, and the presence of the animals, invite a sense of peace and nostalgia. The camera becomes a tool for expressing personal experience, inviting us to reflect on our own relationship with nature and memory. Painters and photographers are always talking to one another across time, inspiring new ways of seeing and feeling.