Kamer van landgoed De Wildbaan, Driebergen 1903 - 1907

This is a photograph of the Kamer van landgoed De Wildbaan, Driebergen, by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht. It's a world of greys, captured with light and shadow, almost like a charcoal drawing. I'm drawn to the way the photographer plays with tone, giving depth to the objects in the room. It’s like he's feeling his way through the space, letting the light guide him. The photo is full of textures – the smooth walls, the patterned carpet, the rough fur of the animal heads mounted on the wall. My eye keeps going back to the tablecloth. It's got this rumpled, lived-in quality, a bit like a painter’s canvas after a long day in the studio. It’s a quiet chaos. Wieldrecht's picture reminds me of the stark interiors of Vilhelm Hammershøi. Both artists share a love for the poetry of the everyday, turning the mundane into something mysterious. Art isn’t about answers, but about asking questions, and I find so much to ponder in this simple room.